Famed actor and heartthrob Zac Efron is turning his attention away from Hollywood lights and toward hempcrete walls in Australia.
Efron and friends are currently in the process of constructing “FutureCave” — an ambitious off-grid home built almost entirely from industrial hemp. It is being established on a 128-hectare rainforest property near the New South Wales-Queensland border, purchased in 2020. Breaking ground on this future eco-house comes after six years of meticulous planning.
For the project, he has enlisted environmental designer Joost Bakker, whom he met while filming his Netflix series Down to Earth in 2021. Bakker — a zero-waste pioneer known for his ‘Future Food System’ installations — is leading the undertaking, incorporating locally sourced hemp for walls, insulation, blocks and interior finishes. Hempcrete employed benefits from being naturally fire resistant and breathable, helping to regulate humidity.
Plans include roughly 2,200 lime-free hempcrete blocks bound with oyster shells, along with hemp-based joinery, mattresses, curtains, pillows and textiles. Efron has also approved 200 Plantbord-branded hemp boards for the kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
“Zac Efron is pushing me and my team to create something truly special,” Bakker said on Instagram in December.
FutureCave features six bedroom pods connected by outdoor walkways, each with private bathrooms and rooftop gardens. The entire property runs off-grid, minimising environmental impact while allowing its owner to live closer to nature and out of the spotlight.
Efron wanted this retreat after years of relentless global travel and filming schedules. He is seeking a peaceful base where he can recharge between projects.
Now 38, Efron first rose to international fame by playing Troy Bolton in Disney’s High School Musical franchise. He later earned praise for dramatic roles in The Greatest Showman, The Iron Claw and The Greatest Beer Run Ever.
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