Young couple self-builds hempcrete home with innovative compost toilet

When Nil and Olivia found an affordable plot in picturesque Garrotxa, Catalonia, they quickly bought it and began to build themselves a home to fit the property.
With no building experience and wanting something light on the land, they installed screw piles and an insulated prefab panel for a foundation and subfloor. For the walls they mixed hemp, lime and water to create a hempcrete mortar. With the help of family and friends, they finished building and drying the walls in three months.
Hempcrete serves as a good insulator, so even though temperatures often drop below freezing during winters here in the foothills of the Pyrenees, the couple doesn’t need any heating system. The home takes advantage of the sun's heat by being oriented toward the south for maximum solar gain during the day and the concrete floors trap that heat to be released throughout the evening. If there is ever a particularly cold night or days without sun, the couple installed a wood-burning stove to bring up the indoor temperature by a few degrees, but not much is needed, even in those circumstances.
Given the chronic drought in the region, Olivia and Nil installed a worm composting toilet. Other than the urine-separating element, it looks like a standard toilet, and only needs to be emptied of finished compost every two years.
An avid cyclist, for Nil this area is a dream come true. Olivia relishes the space for a huge vegetable garden, including a greenhouse that the couple erected from a kit.
Nil Camarasa's YT: / @nilcamarasacapilla
On *faircompanes: faircompanies.com/videos/youn...

[@BrokenCurtain]

Putting up the greenhouse before the actual house is actually a great idea, since it can be done quickly and gives you an enclosed space to keep things dry.

[@nilcamarasacapilla]

Thanks for visiting Kirsten and Nicolás. Such an amazing job what you are doing. So inspiring. Nil and Olivia

[@nicolasboullosa]

Gràcies família :-) Thank you both, this project you shared is going to inspire so many projects that will make sense. A house that knows how to breathe like an organism and simultaneously has the looks and the comfort of a modern construction.

[@bashirmarkhamidi2259]

Really enjoyed learning about your home and what it took to build it. Sending you love from the US

[@samj4348]

Beautiful home, we are planning our hemp home in Australia so thanks for the inspiration!

[@juliasms]

Hi! @nilcamarasacapilla I was wondering if you could drill things in the walls, like furniture or other things. Also how did you do to pass the electricity and plumbing? Thanks so much for sharing!

[@RPRosen-ki2fk]

I LOVE your home and the values you used to construct it. Peace, Love & Best Wishes.

[@soaring1]

Seems way more economical to start from scratch as opposed to buying an expensive ruin. I do admire the people that do restore ruins though. Beautiful home they built. Thank you Kirsten.

[@FinnRenard]

Depending on where in Spain you'd want to live, legally it is much easier to get permission to restore an old building, as opposed to get permission to build new, especially in rural areas, where you often won't be allowed to build new at all. To make the economical aspect even worse, land prices in Spain are absurdly high. If interested in living in Spain, it is always a good idea to check local laws, as they might differ a lot even between 2 neighbouring municipalities.

[@soaring1]

@@FinnRenard Thanks

[@soaring1]

@@Underground-Electronic-MusicYeah but Detroit houses are not crumbling ruins that are hundreds of years old and expensive to buy before any rehab has started.

[@tamarahimmelstrand8985]

Always inspiring to see people building environmental houses. It gives so much hope and inspiration.

[@thinkplanetearth2946]

Super interesting about the hemp being breathable and how it can regulate the temperature as well as the airflow. And I like the house and what they did. Very minimal and comfortable. Would've liked to have known what it would cost to build.

[@rcanter]

Each week I think I have seen the perfect house, and then along comes a new video with another great concept. I like so many things about this design.

[@scottperezfox]

To be clear, 13:00, the conversation about Passive House is probably two conversations at once. They are using passive methodology like orientation, thermal mass, overhangs, etc., but if they didn't get certified by a local credentialing body, it's not a Passive House. Air tightness is different from vapour permeability so it is totally possible to certify a hempcrete house (or straw bale, cob, etc.) so long as it only has a certain amount of air movement through envelope. In that case, it's more about the doors and windows than the wall materials.

[@Pedroisanickname]

I can't imagine not having sun during the winter months. Hemp is so impressive. We need to get back to it.

[@ak241]

definitely

[@BrokenCurtain]

I'm happy Germany is going to legalize cannabis next month, which will bring hemp back as a construction material.

[@lakeportlighter]

Its unfortunate it was outlawed in the west in favor of cotton. Hemp is such a versatile, and superior product in every way.

[@rmbarnes672]

Cotton makes better clothes 😇

[@ricos1497]

I'd be interested to see how hemp walls hold up to driving rain. Where I am in the UK, we get some really bad driving rain that the wind would direct right at the south and east aspect walls (also where the most sunlight comes from), and I wonder if that would be an issue for this type of construction. Obviously, roof overhangs would help to an extent, but people that visit us often comment on how horizontal the rain appears to be here! I wonder if it would be possible to integrate materials without affecting performance? Perhaps a stone wall facing East, with the remaining walls in hemp. It'd be great to see many more examples of this type of construction to iron out any difficulties that might occur.

[@9sheri9]

Such a cool build, excellent concept & execution. Love that he used to ride his bike in the areas as a child. Thx again for such quality content, Kirsten & Nicolás

[@nicolasboullosa]

Our pleasure. Thanks to Olivia and Nil for inspiring us all! Have to confirm that our hosts are excellent cooks, actual cuisine. Having the feeling they’ll do whatever they choose to. Natural talent and determination.

[@jaredheal7645]

Hempcrete also makes an excellent material for anyone lookin to make a year around greenhouse in cold climates. I have made one in central Oregon to fight temps around -5 with plants in it in January. Love the stuff. Should probably become standard. The fireproof rating is one of the most underrated parts in my opinion. Especially for those in Rural areas.

[@marthareyes4024]

Really a nice couple and have done a fabulous job building their cozy home.

[@rhonak7548]

Love your house and building material is awesome. Hemp is a wonderful product.

[@Alex_Plante]

I think they were clever to build their own house which is both economical and energy-efficient. I would have some of those long piles under the house checked by a structural engineer, though, to make sure they have enough cross-bracing to resist lateral forces.

[@RadioNul]

First thing I thought when looking at them, as civil engineer myself

[@luljas2551]

Excellent. I found hemp concrete a few years ago. Right after I had built my own glasswool insulated house. This house looks nice. Maybe someday I'll make a new house out of hemp. Compost toilets are often used in summer cottages in Finland. The 5 million inhabitants have about a million cottages here.

[@jenh9252]

Love that 5he Spanish man speaks English with an Australian accent clearly picked up from his partner😊

[@paulo7200]

The "hee-YARR" is exquisitely annoying.

[@sergigorchs7329]

La Garrotxa, un dels tresors de la nostra terra.Catalunya. Nil, la casa és fantàstica. Quina gran feina.

[@waylonk2453]

The hemp concrete is something that I'd never heard of! What a versatile building material

[@nemesisnick66]

why did you think oil companies lobbied so hard to make it illegal after ford figured out how to build cars out of hemp

[@MurDocInc]

You can substitute the hemp with straw, saw dust and styrofoam. Saw dust you can get for free from saw mills. Stryofoam you can also get for free, but you need to shred it down.

[@jeffstumpf9129]

I love this house and this young couple. I also love that they are open to the possibility of children.

[@t81629]

They will teach them so many interesting things.

[@benbaranes7541]

One of the best houses featured here, the really made it fit exactly to them

[@FrisellFan01]

To get this kind of building or let's say building materials...in the U.S.A. it could be more than an uphill climb because of what materials are being used now. Those companies have a huge control on the supply of what is used or not used.....but I am talking about huge building projects(housing complexes)...for a couple if you could get your hands on the materials and if you had your own land you could pull it off. Mighty nice home !

[@us2634]

loved this episode. these two seemed so charming. I also always loved the idea of a breathing house. people try to build in a more natural way with straw/mud-loam.

[@janefreeman995]

Many houses in Hawaii are post and pier foundation.

[@ericadamcollins]

So nice! In terms of the construction, two things really stand out: 1. The "pylons" to avoid excavating (I kind of thought that getting Urbanismo to approve this system might be difficult). And 2. The Hempcrete - It is such a balanced option, breathable with great insulation... and besides being beautiful, it's cheap (ok., you may need to have a lot of friends, but what are friends for anyway). And great video, as always! Thanks again ;-)

[@ReynaMagdaleneD.Picorro]

just got my 40ft container from Wuwi Shipping Container very cheap and even paid it upon delivery. cant wait to start working.

[@beckyisabell4324]

One of the nicer homes I’ve seen and a very nice couple who spent lots of research for their home.

[@benjaminpeters2518]

What a wonderful home that they created and It checks all the boxes of energy efficiency.

[@Steelsnort]

You can achieve high tightness performance. Hempcrete alone is not great as it is ~25 AC/H @ 50Pa. Tightness is achieved once the lime render has been applied. You can find a video of a European builder getting in the 0.6 AC/H @ 50Pa Passive House range. Also, search a research paper "Hygrothermal performance of an experimental hemp-lime building", Centre for Innovative Construction Materials, University of Bath.

[@Nico-qt4qz]

As an Aussie, cant half tell an Aussie accent right away 😂

[@ValRigoli]

Yep, it was so good to hear proper english lol

[@mariamarshall6116]

What a beautiful low impact home, ventilation is on point, the amount of pollutants in a “normal “ home can wreak havoc on our health but goes unrecognized. Thank God for air!

[@gabe135]

Love to see the building process and how they decided on using hemp walls

[@Viktor_DumVKopci]

They said few important points which are 100% true. Hempcrete is generally not expensive But you need 3-5 people on the site. If you do have friends willing to do it with you great. If not this can take take large sum of money. Been there, done that. 😃

[@BryanDenlingerKJVM]

Some very interesting concepts. Great video.

[@briangarrow448]

Absolutely beautiful area and what a practical home! Kudos for sharing this with us! I have fallen in love with the area and can imagine myself living there now. All I need is a winning lottery ticket and I’m moving.

[@Msmora76]

What a nice video. happy to see you around Spain lots of amazing and funny buildings to visit.

[@luedch8460]

Well done! I really love to see this type of people whom got the guts to build without any experience,it is so inspiring !

[@mrs.manrique7411]

I’m glad the roof didn’t fly off in the wind! 🌬️🏠💪

[@aa-kh9ex]

Great people. Great house. Very informative about the hemp building process, too.

[@Albert-nf8jk]

I thought that was a brilliant, creative build, thanks folks.

[@joleh6077]

Beautiful home! I love the way they left the raw texture of the wall on the upper half.

[@imdanhoover]

very cool...inspiring...the issue with greenhouses...is it's never big enough!..

[@iamreveye]

This is gorgeous. I love this house and building method.

[@davidrose9577]

I love your channel. You do a beautiful job showing interesting home solutions. The property was well thought out and executed. Bravo to everyone evolved.

[@soyamor6528]

Me encanta todo de este proyecto y el resultado es fenomenal! Una casa respetuosa con el medioambiente, práctica, bonita y acogedora. Enhorabuena a Nil y Olivia!!

[@cherylbarrett3443]

What a beautiful and efficient home.

[@orlinchirinos1981]

Good looking house on stilts raised from the ground to avoid water damage and more other things

[@thomasdecarlo8543]

Really great place. Love everything they have done. I would live there in a minute

[@thejuanderful]

Nice! I'm hoping to use hempcrete but since I live in a temperate rain forest I will need to seal it with vapor barrier. 100% humidity in the winter in unacceptable, I'd turn into a fungus. The micro pilings look pretty cool, creates a great space for the water bladder.

[@jma5474]

I believe hempcrete regulates the moisture in addition to being mold resistant

[@nicolasboullosa]

@@jma5474Correct.

[@thejuanderful]

@@jma5474 The problem is when the climate is 100% humidity outside for six months at a time. I still need to seal it for my area, although if I could open it during the summer that would be okay.

[@ericadamcollins]

Saw this. No idea if it helps you, but just in case: Hempcrete can be suitable for use in a humid climate due to its moisture-regulating properties. Hempcrete acts as a vapor-permeable material, meaning it can absorb water from the atmosphere when humidity levels are high and then release it when conditions are drier. This ability helps to protect the structure from moisture-related problems such as rot and mold, which are common issues in humid climates. Hempcrete's moisture-absorbent, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties make it resistant to mold, thus extending the longevity of a building.

[@simonpannett8810]

Love the raised foundation!!

[@thatthotho]

Beautiful!

[@carloskoppen]

beautiful build!

[@plaidpaisley5918]

Love this!! Genius.

[@antonsimkin]

so nice. people make stuff!

[@revdupartist9386]

Wonderful home.

[@gupperguppygupper]

This is perfect for us Dutchies. No shortage of hemp 😂

[@OldBrownDog]

You knocked it out of the park with this one

[@wendydee3007]

bloody marvellous!

[@jeanadamsick9854]

THANKS. Do take care. Fl., USA

[@HappyLife693]

Truly fascinating 😊

[@Jsjsjjssjs]

This is incredible

[@Houseds]

Nice natural home❤ i love it

[@juliuscaesar3346]

Absolutely brilliant ❤️💚👍🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@AimeeAimee444]

Absolutely love your content. The ingenuity of the people is inspiring. Do you have a few top 10 homes that struck you as remarkable? Sending my best, love and light! 🙌🏼🤍💫🕊️✨

[@MichaelTvardzik]

Very informative. Thank you. This is the first time I've seen hempcrete. Im going to look into it more.

[@codyleeser392]

great house!

[@edwardlulofs444]

Very nice.

[@jm-bv1wh]

A beautiful house. Can anyone provide the name or make of the toilet? I've never seen one like that. Looks great and doesn't need frequent maintenance like other composting toilets.

[@marjaposch5229]

Permapreta

[@marianfrances4959]

Dream house!👍🇨🇦😎

[@drudeconstr3508]

Офигенно. Удачи

[@dameanvil]

- [00:10] 🏡 Couple initially sought a small plot for gardening but found ruins too expensive in the area. - [01:00] 🏗 They lived in a caravan for 8 months while setting up utilities and planning construction. - [02:01] 🛠 Used micropiles for foundation to minimize soil impact, avoiding excavation. - [03:01] 🌱 Started with a greenhouse and microgreens business before building the house. - [05:01] 💧 Used rainwater collection with a 30,000L bladder tank to address water scarcity. - [07:26] 💸 Opted for hemp and lime construction for cost-effectiveness and sustainability. - [09:00] 🌞 South-facing design with ample natural light and thermal mass for passive heating. - [11:05] 🏡 Avoided corridors to maximize space efficiency in the house design. - [14:19] 🚽 Installed a composting toilet for sustainability, reducing water usage. - [21:17] 🍽 Designed a spacious kitchen with island bench and induction cooktop. - [23:01] 🏠 Aimed for a comfortable house without excessive size, balancing comfort and sustainability.

[@4eyefoxbodyfanclub625]

21:15 💩 poop

[@hjkasdf]

Greatly appreciate this.

[@MinSziHo]

17:30 "kids or something like that" OMG what times... 🙂

[@lorenbush8876]

If the hempcrete has the high R value that google says it has it is a good thermal insulator but if it is on the low end then it really is not a great thermal insulator, there is the factor that you can grow and manufacture it yourself so that might be a big consideration too, thanks Kirsten.

[@NouriaDiallo]

The R value isn't the only thing going on with hempcrete. There is the air humidity factor: damp air feels colder than dry air (because water absorbs more heat than air and is a better conductor) so the way hempcrete walls regulate vapor makes the rooms more comfortable even at the same temperature. There is also the phase transition of water in the walls: when it condensates (which it does more in winter), it releases heat into the wall, when it evaporates (which it does more in summer), it pulls heat from the wall. The branching, open porosity of the hemp hurds creates the condition for capillary condensation by adsorption, it means the condensation needn't be caused by low temperature and can warm the inner surface of the wall. Since there is a capillary traction within the wall, the water will be wicked away. Then there's the thermal diffusivity and thermal effusivity [think how at the same temperature stone will *feel* colder than wood and in fact absorbs more calories] and hempcrete is very good on both of those factors, keeping a warmer surface. And the surface temperature of the walls (including floors and ceiling, is there a word for that?) accounts for 50 % of the feeling of warmth (the other half being the temperature of the air) because of the infrared radiation exchange constantly taking place. So the performance of hempcrete is much better than its R value indicates.

[@ck7642]

WOW!

[@DanielinLaTuna]

Interesting couple. Sounds like he’s a Spaniard and she’s Aussi/Kiwi? Blending ideas from different cultures. I did not realize laws about ruins were getting so restrictive. Looks like they found a happy median.

[@nicolasboullosa]

Good ear.

[@Nico-qt4qz]

She is Aussie, she goes UP at the end of her sentence.

[@samj4348]

Love your work kirsten - can you do more hemp houses :p We are thinking of hempspray here, which should avoid some of the cracks you see in this video. I think it's caused when you go to tamp a new level and the prior level is too dry?

[@RZ-eu2rl]

I'd like to see a mobile home retrofitted with hempcrete.

[@johntherat339]

Very nice. Is that just a concrete overlay on the floor?

[@ahdid6105]

Amazing project. Can I get in touch to replicate this for myself?

[@AllGrowing]

I would also be interested in more info on how to build this way.

[@s-c..]

Check the description for their KZbin channel.

[@toddberkely6791]

16:45 all spaniards will recognise that little chair jajaja

[@nicolasboullosa]

Lol indeed! You start with those in school, even us, the EGB oldies!

[@wilsonfreitas477]

I love your channel. It is far ahead of any other that addresses the subjects listed in the description. Thank you for bringing such interesting topics. But I always miss one topic: in places like this couple's residence, or really remote places, how is household waste treated? I mean... For example... When an electronic device stops working, how to solve this problem? Could you please address this issue in the videos?

[@joancamarasadiaz3597]

this is Catalonia, a small and very dense country, within half an hour's drive you have many towns and all the services

[@wilsonfreitas477]

Thanks for your answer, @joancamarasadiaz3597. Please tell me if I understand your thinking correctly: the solution to household waste is to take it individually by driving 30 minutes to the appropriate collection point. Correct? However, would this be a solution for everyone?

[@joancamarasadiaz3597]

in 30 minutes people have many collection points, maybe it only takes 5 minutes or less, in Europe the distances are small, nothing to do with USA or Australia@@wilsonfreitas477

[@jeffstumpf9129]

Watching stamping down the hemp reminds us what labor and toil are: repetition. 10:02

[@bigsarge2085]

👍👍

[@ManufacturedHousingExpert]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@andreaspopp623]

Hola Nil and Olivia, hi to Kirsten and her team. Thanks for the very interesting video. Of german origine, I live in the South of France for the past 15 years, and I happen to be in Roses, Empuriabrava several times per year. I am considering moving in that area, but not close to the coast, but rather in the foothills/your area. Could you please give me an idea of how much a building plot of 500m² might cost. Could you also tell me, who manufactures the "worm-composting" toilett, and where you bought the hemp and lime. Have you ever made a calculation of how much a sqm of wall cost you in hemp and lime? Your reply is highly appreciated. Greetings from Aix-en-Provence, Andreas

[@DSWL_]

❤

[@audreysmith2557]

Your toilet set up is brilliant! Can you share the maker or manufacturer?

[@user-zw3rb5yk2z]

Hempcrete is a lovely medium. What is their floor made of? Is it heated in any way besides being a thermal mass releasing back into the living space?

[@pearlhartney9]

Really beautiful house! I would be interested in how much it cost.

[@coevicman3685]

My sister's family live in a large greenhouse (poly tunnel) at one end inside is a timber gartden shed that is the house. Great climate control and food galore.

[@10-OSwords]

Those windows do not look standard they look quite expensive, but nice. I don't understand people who don't have cabinets in their kitchen at all.

[@karenmikasko7148]

At 12:59 they show dishes in a cabinet beside the stove....possibly to the right of the stove also.

[@gluckso4090]

😻

[@bdmenne]

how is the sound dampening capabilities/. what do the rooms or house sound like?

[@royalred920]

This looks really close to the size and design of the hempcrete home my wife and I have in mind. Although we’re still not sure on the foundation yet. We’re still weighing above ground like this or more bermed, earthship-ish. Not sure if they mentioned it or if I just missed it.. Did anyone catch the square meters of the house?

[@samj4348]

Same as us! We are going to build on stumps - less worry about damp. If you did bermed the wall buried may not tolerate it?

[@dm-gg7ll]

yeah, yeah

[@jma5474]

I know they used sips for the floor, but What is the interoor floor?

[@sharrablackfire7337]

Okay serious question - how do the composting toilet worms handle period blood?

[@ameg1366]

Does anyone know about the necessary protection for Hemp walls to build beneath the ground ? It appears that given the weather modification it is critical to build beneath the ground for added protection from the elements

[@NouriaDiallo]

It is not recommended to build below ground with hempcrete. You would need a more hydraulic lime than the one used above ground (with added pozzolana, for example) and granulates that can't rot (cork, perlite, vermiculite or other insulating granulates). And the structural framing couldn't be in wood... Since the ground itself has good inertia, it might be better, simpler and cheaper to build the below ground portion in masonry.

[@patrickburns2274]

Did they have a general accounting of cost? Even an approximate cost?

[@K2blades2]

Very nice! Do you have to drain that water container in the winter?

[@rcmrcm3370]

Temperate climate with large thermal mass. I live in Ontario and our backyard pool never goes solid ice.

[@Ljungbacken7181]

I am curious what camgear you are filmning with ?!

[@ItsRyanStudios]

I see a lot of young couples moving to rural spain an portugal. It's unfortunate to see the how prevalent fires are becoming in that region. I would not want to be living their moving forward.