Preserving heritage sustainably thanks to lime hemp.
Because heritage is so fragile, it needs very specific conditions to be preserved in an ideal way. For instance, light, temperature and humidity all need to be perfectly matched in order to preserve heritage in safe conditions.
Often, the conditions of such a heritage depot are regulated by complex installations that also require a huge amount of energy. The City of Mechelen wanted a sustainable solution and therefore quickly settled on hemp blocks. This 100% natural building material is moisture-regulating, absorbing excess moisture and releasing it at a delayed rate to ensure a continuous, ideal humidity level. Moreover, it has excellent insulation values, guaranteeing a stable indoor temperature at all times.
Contractor Bob Van Poppel: "The city council chose hemp blocks for their climate-neutral properties. After all, the moisture-regulating and thermal properties of the hemp blocks significantly reduce the power of the techniques when preserving heritage."
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A heritage depot with a rich history.
For the new location of the heritage depot, the City of Mechelen chose the old sheds of the Société Rateau, a stunning piece of industrial heritage in its own right. Built in 1911, it was originally a large workshop producing turbines, pumps and fans. Although the sheds were damaged during the World Wars, production continued to run there. After the closure, the city took over the sheds and is now giving this industrial heritage a new use.
As the warehouses themselves are heritage, it was important to renovate them on the inside so as not to damage the outer facade. Here too, hemp blocks were an ideal solution, as their technical qualities are optimally used for inside renovations.
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