Excerpt: Greenhouse is a conceptual residence designed by the architectural firm Archigardener. This prototype for temperate life within year-round nature imagines the communal areas of a private residence as a life-in-a glasshouse. This concept explores sustainable life with constructed nature within the context of a temperate climate.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by Architect] Have you ever dreamed of living in a greenhouse? This prototype for temperate life within year-round nature imagines the communal areas of a private residence as a life-in-a glasshouse. This concept explores sustainable life with constructed nature within the context of a temperate climate.
This conceptual design was envisioned as a renovation of a Victorian terrace house in Melbourne, a common typology in the Australian city’s inner-city areas. The traditional pitched roof form is extruded to form a continuous roof surface, which becomes glazed above the glasshouse living areas. The existing or extended fair-faced brick walls and a new glass roof will enclose the space. The entrance will be relocated to the side of the house, entering directly into the communal areas.
A metal mesh in front of the brick and below portions of the glass ceiling will allow vining plants to grow, providing maximal greenery and dappled shade. In-ground planters along the brick walls on both sides will provide a fringe of lush greenery. Rainwater runoff from the roof collected into gutters and rain chains for water storage.
The greenhouse can be insulated with double-pane glass and heated with geothermal subfloor heating. It will also be oriented to be naturally heated by sunlight during winter.
The light-filled, open-plan glasshouse will become the verdant communal heart of the home. The historic front portion of the terrace house will house two bedrooms. At the rear of the historic part of the terrace house, a kitchen will be built into the charming gabled end wall, facing a kitchen island with barstool seating. A dining area will be located at the centre of the space.
A living arrangement with a mirror-concealed tv will be placed along the opposing gable wall. The enclosed space at the rear right of the block can be used as a studio office or a two-car garage.
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