Image via Joost Bakker
Hollywood actor Zac Efron is taking sustainable living to new heights, constructing a fully eco-designed home made almost entirely from hemp on his 130-hectare bush property in the NSW Tweed Valley. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the project brings together advanced ecological design, regenerative materials and off-grid systems to create what Efron calls the “healthiest home on the planet.”
The six-bedroom, six-bathroom residence, dubbed “Zac’s greenhouse,” was designed by environmental innovator Joost Bakker, who has collaborated with architects, engineers and sustainable design specialists to realise the vision. Major construction is due to begin early next year, with completion targeted for September.
A Home Built from Regenerative Materials
Efron’s new home will use hemp almost everywhere: from the mattress he sleeps on to the insulation, curtains, joinery, rugs and internal walls. Bakker notes that the project extends even further, exploring hemp-based washing machine components, dryer materials and emerging hemp battery technologies.
The roof itself will host 100 tonnes of living soil, acting as both insulation and a regenerative platform. For the home’s structure, a Victorian block maker is producing hemp bricks bound with oyster shells, a lime-free approach that avoids mining impacts and yields lightweight, pollution-absorbing blocks. Around 2,200 blocks will be required for the build.
Why Hemp Is Gaining Momentum
Industrial hemp, known for its low THC levels, has rapidly grown as a construction material since legal changes in 2017 allowed its broader cultivation. Experts say hemp offers a compelling list of benefits:
- Carbon-neutral and fast-growing
- Fire-resistant, making it ideal for bushfire-prone regions
- Long-lasting with high durability
- Capable of creating breathable, non-toxic, mould-resistant internal environments
Plant science expert Professor Rachel Burton says hemp’s regenerative qualities and versatility make it a strong contender for future large-scale builds. Professor Sara Wilkinson from UTS adds that hemp’s low-carbon footprint positions it as a much-needed alternative to traditional building materials like concrete and brick.
Pushing the Future of Eco Construction
While hemp construction is still limited by a lack of processing facilities and industry familiarity, experts believe adoption will accelerate as builders gain training and consumers demand healthier, low-impact homes.
For Efron’s project, council approvals are in place, foundations have begun and Bakker says every detail, including floors designed to “ground” the actor to the earth’s magnetic field, has been engineered to align with a holistic, regenerative philosophy.
If completed as planned, the home will stand as a benchmark for low-carbon building innovation in Australia, and a blueprint for future sustainable residential design.
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