Sustainable hempcrete wall solution and its benefits in reducing load impact on structural foundation: A case study of the Pace Building in Ho Chi Minh City
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Abstract
The paper explores the benefits of reducing wall loads in construction by using lightweight hempcrete walls. The analysis focuses on the Pace Institute building located in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The evaluation criteria are based on load on piles transferred by both vertical and lateral (wind) loads. Load combinations are considered according to both Vietnamese (TCVN) and American standards. Two wall types- hempcrete and traditional fired clay brick are analyzed and compared to assess the advantages of using lightweight hempcrete walls. Structural analysis results indicate a significant reduction in column base loads when hempcrete walls are used in place of conventional brick walls. This reduction leads to more economical foundation design, saving both construction materials and costs. Furthermore, the use of hempcrete walls offers substantial environmental benefits, as this material is considered "carbon- negative", contributing positively to sustainable construction practices.
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© 2026 The authors. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
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