Hemp for rural building construction. A tool for sustainable development in the Colombian post-conflict scenario

In Colombia, rural communities often face transportation difficulties, unemployment, and precarious housing situations aggravated by their isolated condition. This work aims to analyze how architecture can contribute to changing the agricultural economy. The research focuses on applying architecture as a strategy for sustainable rural development through the cultivation of hemp to produce building components. To assess this possibility, a hemp-based prototype house was designed for the providence of Toribío, one of the poorest areas in the country and also one of the most critical marijuana production centers in Colombia. This project could be replicable in other rural areas and could contribute to building sustainable multifunctional landscapes to improve local economies and the entrepreneurial capacities of their communities.