# Eco Hemp-Based Houses The Solar-Powered 'Flat House' Offers Well-Appointed Living Spaces By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2020-01-20 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solarpowered-flat-house References: [homecrux](https://www.homecrux.com/flat-house-by-practice-architecture-made-from-hemp/138277/) & [practicearchitecture](https://practicearchitecture.co.uk/project/flat-house/) The solar-powered 'Flat House' is the design work of London-based Practice Architecture and highlights the capabilities of [eco-friendly architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-wanda) to set new standards in the industry. Located on the Margent Farm in rural Cambridgeshire, the house is crafted with [prefabricated panels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drop-pod) that have been infilled with hemp that's grown on the farm itself to further enhance the eco nature of the building. The hemp tiles are bound together using a sugar-based resin sourced from agricultural waste, while the building as a whole was erected in just two days. The solar-powered 'Flat House' boasts an off-grid profile with power and heating coming from a biomass boiler as well as the aforementioned solar panels that are installed across the roof. Image Credit: Oskar Proctor/Practice Architecture ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.4/10 - Popularity: 95% | Activity: 87% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) > [Eco Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/ecoarchitecture) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Eco-friendly Architecture:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop sustainable building materials and methods to create more eco-friendly structures. - **Prefabricated Construction:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore efficient and cost-effective ways to construct buildings using prefabricated panels. - **Renewable Energy Integration:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Combine solar panels with biomass boilers to create off-grid and sustainable energy solutions for buildings. ### Where This Applies - **Architecture:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate hemp-based materials and sustainable construction practices into architectural designs. - **Construction:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop advanced prefabrication techniques and materials for faster and more sustainable building construction. - **Renewable Energy:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore innovative ways to integrate solar power and biomass boilers for off-grid and eco-friendly energy solutions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Textured Modern House Extensions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hemp-house.md) - [Solar Powered Compact Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/e55000.md) - [Hempcrete-Accented Patchwork Facades](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/patchwork-facade.md) - [Off-Grid Solar Panel Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/florian-busch-architects.md) - [Sustainable Country Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/three-oaks-farm.md) - [Hemp Rendered Family Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/proclamation-house.md) - [Eco‑tiny Sanctuarys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tign-tiny-homes.md) - [Barn-Inspired Timber Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-w-1.md) - [Cob Building Revivals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cobbauge-house.md)