BRE to build hemp house at Innovation Park

A house made from hemp and a dwelling by the Prince's Foundation will be among the star attractions at the BRE's Insite event in June 2009.

The event, called Insite 09: Constructing the Future, will include a building exhibition, a topical conference programme and an interactive indoor demonstration. The event aims to showcase the latest developments in design, technology, materials and building techniques.

In addition to a hemp house to demonstrate the benefits of renewable fuels and materials, the Innovation Park will include the Prince's Foundation's 'natural house', a sustainable home built from natural materials, as well as a health centre.

Architect White Design will convert the current school building at the BRE's Innovation Park into the health centre. There are plans to install assisted homecare technologies in another home on the Park, which are aimed at maintaining the health of elderly people in their own homes.

The event will also present the winning entry in a competition run by British Homes Awards and the Landscape Institute for a landscape design for the park.

Sustainable refurbishment will be another key feature of the event, which will take place at the BRE's Watford site from June 4-9 2009.

BRE director Jaya Skandamoorthy said: “The Offsite events have been introducing new developments and innovations to the construction industry since 2003, but with the rapid pace of change in the industry, the event itself is changing - new issues, new buildings, even a new name - Insite 09, Constructing the Future.”