Built for Wally Farms, an experimental farming incubator in upstate New York, the Hempcret & Timber Guesthouses were designed by Brooklyn-based urban designer Kaja Kühl and architect-of-record Roger Cardinal and completed in 2023. The project consists of a pair of micro-cabins, each measuring 400 square feet, which were conceived as prototypes for low-embodied carbon construction and are used to house guests. The design reinterprets vernacular US farmworker houses and cabins, featuring simple rectangular forms, pitched roofs, and generous covered porches that extend the living space outdoors.

The guesthouses were constructed with prefabricated, off-site components to minimize their environmental impact, which aligns with Kühl's research into regenerative and climate-positive building practices. The primary material is a timber frame and prefabricated hempcrete bricks, an insulating biomaterial made from the woody core of the hemp plant mixed with lime. The use of hempcrete, which stores carbon, contributes to the project's negative carbon footprint, making it a "climate-positive" dwelling. In addition to the hempcrete, the design incorporates passive house principles, including large south-facing windows and doors to maximize solar gain and local well water.

The homes are situated in a forest clearing under mature trees for natural shade and are visually similar but not identical. Each cabin features a spacious deck and sliding glass doors that open to the outside, creating a seamless connection with the natural surroundings. The interiors exude a simple, natural aesthetic with deliberate details that highlight the materials. The energy-efficient design relies on electricity from a nearby solar array, further reducing the homes' operational carbon footprint.

Credits

Urban Designer: Kaja Kühl (Youarethecity)

Architect of Record: Roger Cardinal

Owner: Wally Farms

Architecture Studio: Coexist (collaborator)

Photography: Laszlo Kovacs, Kaja Kühl