Natura Matéria

Natura Matéria is a spin-off company of the University of Minho, based in Guimarães, dedicated to advancing sustainable and healthy construction through bio-architecture. Backed by a multidisciplinary team of engineers and architects with extensive research experience, the company translates knowledge generated through R&D into practical solutions for the building sector. The company both markets and consults on natural construction materials, including hempcrete, hemp wool, hemp blocks, hemp shives for mortars, cork, and hydrated lime. These materials are valued for their thermal and acoustic insulation properties, moisture regulation, and carbon sequestration potential—hempcrete alone can sequester more than 10 tonnes of CO2 per hectare over its lifecycle. Beyond product supply, Natura Matéria offers specialized technical assistance throughout a project's lifecycle, from material selection to on-site application, targeting both professionals and private clients. The company has participated in numerous collaborative projects, including rammed earth (taipa) constructions with humidity and temperature sensor monitoring, compressed earth block (BTC) triple masonry walls, and hemp house renovations, working alongside architecture studios, construction firms, and the University of Minho's Structures Laboratory (LEST). Natura Matéria has also engaged in knowledge-sharing activities, such as participating in the first international Hemp congress in the Azores and running hempcrete construction workshops at industry events like Encontro Build. Its mission centers on stimulating a culture of innovation in modern architecture through the use of natural materials, aligned with circular economy principles and healthy housing standards, contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to sustainable resource management and waste reduction.