Zac Efron’s Northern Rivers eco home to begin construction within weeks

A SUSTAINABLE home designed for actor Zac Efron in the Northern Rivers is set to begin construction in the coming weeks, with zero-waste design innovator Joost Bakker leading the project.

Efron’s home, described as a “Greenhouse”, will use materials such as hemp and incorporate soil as a structural element, reflecting the actor’s growing connection to the region.

The project adds to a growing list of celebrity names drawn to the Northern Rivers, including actor Chris Hemsworth, tennis player Pat Rafter and television presenter Karl Stefanovic, while golfer Greg Norman has recently been spotted house-hunting in Byron Bay and there have been multiple sightings of Jacob Elordi around Byron and Tweed.

Bakker said his work is grounded in eliminating waste through repurposing and regenerative systems.

“I believe in circular systems,” he said.

“I don’t really use materials that can’t be easily recycled or recovered.”

The Northern Rivers project is one of his most ambitious builds, with the aim of creating what he describes as the healthiest home on the planet.

“The whole building will be covered in soil,” Bakker said.

“We’ve got a hundred tonnes of soil going on to the roof of Zac’s house, and we’re using that as an engineering structural element.”

The collaboration began several years ago when the pair met during filming for the Netflix series Down to Earth.

“We met five years ago, and we stayed in touch,” Bakker said.

“Zac loves Australia, he’s an Australian resident and wants to live here, so he called me and said, ‘I’ve bought a beautiful block of land, do you want to design me a house?’ And that’s how it all started.”

Bakker said the Northern Rivers property holds special meaning for Efron.

“It’s one of his favourite parts of the world,” he said.

“He’s got a busy schedule, so he just loves to immerse himself in nature.”

Efron has also played an active role in shaping the project’s sustainability goals.

“He’s really pushing me,” Bakker said.

 

“I’m doing stuff outside of my comfort zone, that’s for sure, but I love that.”

Central to the design is hemp, a plant-based material Bakker believes could transform the construction industry.

“In Zac’s house we’re using it structurally,” he said.

“We’re using it as an MDF particle board replacement, but there’s quite a few different ways we’re using it which is really exciting.”

For Bakker, projects like Efron’s Greenhouse represent a shift in how buildings are made and who benefits.

“At the moment our building materials come out of mines, or out of forests,” he said.

“Because of this, we’ve lost an insane amount of biodiversity and there’s no need for that.”

Bakker said hemp could also help restore ecosystems while supporting local farmers.

“Our farmers can supply the materials to build the houses of the future and in the process restore their soil,” he said.

“I’m not saying that we need to start producing monoculture hemp crops.”

“I’m just saying that we need to introduce hemp as a crop rotation for farmers, because the benefits are tenfold.”

Bakker will also share his approach to sustainable building in an upcoming webinar hosted by iHemp NSW on April 23.

iHemp NSW executive committee volunteer Lisa Flower said interest in industrial hemp is growing, particularly in construction.

“There seems to be a growing interest in industrial hemp for building in particular, but also the textile side of it as well,” she said.

Flower said the organisation regularly hosts webinars throughout the year and is looking forward to Bakker’s involvement.

“We’re not surprised that he’s behind hemp, because it has so many sustainable credentials to its name,” she said.

She said high-profile projects like Efron’s Greenhouse could help drive broader adoption of the material.

“I think that having someone high profile like Zac Efron build what is being called one of the most sustainable houses in the world is a great way to profile hemp in Australia,” she said.

Construction is expected to begin in the coming weeks, with Efron set to take an active role in the build.

“He’s definitely going to get involved,” Bakker said.

“It’s the first time he’s ever built a house, so he’s pretty excited.”

The webinar will be held on April 23 from 7pm to 8pm.