The Tiny Hemp House: A Community-Built Home in Ireland
Photography by Shantanu Starick, unless noted, courtesy of Common Knowledge
In its effort to make housing more affordable and adaptable, Common Knowledge, an emerging social enterprise in Country Clare, Ireland, designed its first Tigín, Gaelic for a tiny home, and has begun teaching groups how to construct their own. Composed of natural, tactile materials, including cork, Common Knowledge’s compact dwelling is on wheels, so it can fit just about anywhere. Join us for a trailer tour.
Since it began holding Tigín classes in its picturesque quarters outside Ennistimon, Ireland, Common Knowledge has completed four tiny homes.
The corrugated paneling sourced from Margent Farm is composed of compressed hemp fiber bound with a resin of farm bio-waste, including sugarcane, corncobs, and oat hulls.
The interior is 20 square meters (approximately 215 square feet), but its tall ceiling and many windows make it feel larger.
The cork paneled insulation and pine framework are left exposed. Cork comes from the cork oak tree.
The wood is marine ply and iroku.
The customizable storage shelves at the front can also be turned into a work space with a built-in desk.