Mildura Powerhouse Place
Australia's first public building to use hempcrete as a primary wall system — tested at civic scale in one of the country's most demanding climates.
Mildura Powerhouse Place
Australia's first public building to use hempcrete as a primary wall system — tested at civic scale in one of the country's most demanding climates.
Mildura Powerhouse Place
Australia's first public building to use hempcrete as a primary wall system — tested at civic scale in one of the country's most demanding climates.
Project Overview
The Mildura Powerhouse marked a turning point for hempcrete in Australia. As the first commercial public building in the country to use hempcrete as a primary wall system, the project demonstrated that the material could perform at a civic scale within a demanding, high-heat climate. Delivered under Hempcrete Victoria, the build positioned hempcrete as a serious contender for public architecture, integrating thermal performance, regional agricultural ties, and long-term durability into a single outcome. The project later received recognition at both the Victorian and National Architecture Awards.
Project Overview
The Mildura Powerhouse marked a turning point for hempcrete in Australia. As the first commercial public building in the country to use hempcrete as a primary wall system, the project demonstrated that the material could perform at a civic scale within a demanding, high-heat climate. Delivered under Hempcrete Victoria, the build positioned hempcrete as a serious contender for public architecture, integrating thermal performance, regional agricultural ties, and long-term durability into a single outcome. The project later received recognition at both the Victorian and National Architecture Awards.
Project Overview
The Mildura Powerhouse marked a turning point for hempcrete in Australia. As the first commercial public building in the country to use hempcrete as a primary wall system, the project demonstrated that the material could perform at a civic scale within a demanding, high-heat climate. Delivered under Hempcrete Victoria, the build positioned hempcrete as a serious contender for public architecture, integrating thermal performance, regional agricultural ties, and long-term durability into a single outcome. The project later received recognition at both the Victorian and National Architecture Awards.
Project Details
Location & Project Size:
Mildura VIC, - 250 m²
Built By
Rork Projects
Completion Year
2023
Designed By
Public Realm Lab
Materials Used
RespiraCast
Supplied By
Hempcrete Victoria & Respirabuilt
Project Details
Location & Project Size:
Mildura VIC, - 250 m²
Built By
Rork Projects
Completion Year
2023
Designed By
Public Realm Lab
Materials Used
RespiraCast
Supplied By
Hempcrete Victoria & Respirabuilt
Project Details
Location & Project Size:
Mildura VIC, - 250 m²
Built By
Rork Projects
Completion Year
2023
Designed By
Public Realm Lab
Materials Used
RespiraCast
Supplied By
Hempcrete Victoria & Respirabuilt
01
The Challenge
The Powerhouse needed to perform as a public building in an extreme climate, with prolonged summer temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C. The project also carried the expectations of civic infrastructure, requiring durability, consistency, and long-term reliability. At the time, hempcrete had rarely been tested at a commercial scale in Australia, so the challenge extended beyond climate performance to proving the material’s suitability within a public context.
01
The Challenge
The Powerhouse needed to perform as a public building in an extreme climate, with prolonged summer temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C. The project also carried the expectations of civic infrastructure, requiring durability, consistency, and long-term reliability. At the time, hempcrete had rarely been tested at a commercial scale in Australia, so the challenge extended beyond climate performance to proving the material’s suitability within a public context.
01
The Challenge
The Powerhouse needed to perform as a public building in an extreme climate, with prolonged summer temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C. The project also carried the expectations of civic infrastructure, requiring durability, consistency, and long-term reliability. At the time, hempcrete had rarely been tested at a commercial scale in Australia, so the challenge extended beyond climate performance to proving the material’s suitability within a public context.
02
Our Approach
Cast-in-place hempcrete was used across approximately 240 square metres of wall area, with around 70 cubic metres mixed on site over a six-week period. The curved wall geometry required careful formwork staging and coordination within a commercial construction programme. Local labour, including Indigenous workers engaged through regional employment initiatives, formed part of the delivery, grounding the project within its community as both a public asset and a regional material demonstration.
02
Our Approach
Cast-in-place hempcrete was used across approximately 240 square metres of wall area, with around 70 cubic metres mixed on site over a six-week period. The curved wall geometry required careful formwork staging and coordination within a commercial construction programme. Local labour, including Indigenous workers engaged through regional employment initiatives, formed part of the delivery, grounding the project within its community as both a public asset and a regional material demonstration.
02
Our Approach
Cast-in-place hempcrete was used across approximately 240 square metres of wall area, with around 70 cubic metres mixed on site over a six-week period. The curved wall geometry required careful formwork staging and coordination within a commercial construction programme. Local labour, including Indigenous workers engaged through regional employment initiatives, formed part of the delivery, grounding the project within its community as both a public asset and a regional material demonstration.
03
The Outcome
The completed building demonstrated that hempcrete could operate at civic scale, delivering thermal moderation, durability, and carbon reduction within a publicly accessible setting. The project received recognition at both the Victorian and National Architecture Awards, and its lessons directly informed the evolution of more efficient hemp-based systems in subsequent commercial builds.
03
The Outcome
The completed building demonstrated that hempcrete could operate at civic scale, delivering thermal moderation, durability, and carbon reduction within a publicly accessible setting. The project received recognition at both the Victorian and National Architecture Awards, and its lessons directly informed the evolution of more efficient hemp-based systems in subsequent commercial builds.
03
The Outcome
The completed building demonstrated that hempcrete could operate at civic scale, delivering thermal moderation, durability, and carbon reduction within a publicly accessible setting. The project received recognition at both the Victorian and National Architecture Awards, and its lessons directly informed the evolution of more efficient hemp-based systems in subsequent commercial builds.
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