De Leertrommel in Opwijk is the first Flemish school to opt for an environmentally conscious renovation with hemp blocks. A first in Flemish education.When renovating primary school De Leertrommel in Opwijk, improving the wellbeing and learning capacity of children was the main priority. To avoid dull classrooms where it’s hard to concentrate, it was decided to renovate with our hemp blocks - a building material with a negative CO² footprint.

Learning in a comfortable atmosphere

Principal Katleen van Lemmens is looking forward to the reopening of the school next school year: "Our priority was to create well-ventilated classrooms where our pupils could comfortably concentrate in a healthy environment all year round. A renovation with hemp blocks is the right solution, as the hemp creates a breathable building that naturally maintains temperature and humidity. We are all looking forward to experiencing this comfort next year!"

For the renovation, it was decided to keep the outer façade and install 30 cm hemp blocks on the inside. They are then plastered with a natural material, but do not need any other insulation material. This way, you get a homogeneous construction of hemp that forms both the wall and the insulation.

Xavier Belis, Sales Director Flanders at IsoHemp and responsible for the project, sees a green movement emerging for the renovation and construction of public buildings: "Of course, it is not only important to create a healthy indoor climate at home. Public places where we spend many hours of our lives - with schools being a prime example - can benefit enormously from the various qualities that hemp blocks have to offer. They are therefore the logical choice for all public projects where the wellbeing of the users and the environment are put first."

Naturally efficient masonry

Ark architecten opted for a green renovation with hemp blocks because of their excellent insulation values in terms of temperature and sound, their unique moisture-regulating properties and their fire safety. Together, these advantages ensure a healthy indoor climate in the classrooms with a constant temperature all year round, without noise pollution from the other classrooms.

Ian Leonard of Ark architects therefore strongly believes in the use of bio-sourced building materials such as lime hemp in the construction and renovation of educational establishments:

"We have reached a point where we can no longer build and renovate as we used to. Choosing natural materials such as hemp is choosing for the health of our children and our environment. An obvious choice if you ask us, and one that will become the norm rather than the exception in the future.”

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