Uppgrenna Nature House

A conference/cafe/event- building in Uppgränna, Sweden. An existing red barn was demolished and replaced by a modern building with ground floor partly submerged in the slope. The upper entrance level consists of an insulated building partly surrounded by an unheated greenhouse that extend over the entire roof. The greenhouse contain room for plant beds and shelter terraces with expansive views of Lake Vättern and a climate similar to Northern Italy. The exterior is portrayed with inspiration from traditional Swedish barn houses, with its simple ports and shutters. All windows and doors fitted with shutters in a red wooden panel wall. It creates dynamism to the façade and reduces heat radiation when the house is not used. Sewage recycling system The greenhouse allows for a closed local loop of recycling sewage waste. Large plant beds cleanse and take up nutrients in the wastewater and converts it to fruit and vegetables. The house does not require connection to the municipal sewer. Living in a greenhouse encourages a sustainable and non-toxic lifestyle. It becomes very clear why you should not emit pollutants in the environment, it turns back in to your own recycling system. The Nature House Concept The Nature House concept (or Naturhus in Swedish) was developed by Swedish architect Bengt Warne in the 1970s. The houses consists of a core - a living area, that is surrounded by a shell of glass - a greenhouse. The greenhouse sets the insulated inner core in a warmer climate and provides sheltered "outdoor space" from the cold northern winter. It gives you the possibility to grow plants from warmer climate zones and preheats air for ventilation. The vision is to make a self sustainable house that produce food, instead of waste. Houses that generate energy, instead of only consuming it and, ultimately, living spaces that induce reflection and learning thus influencing the behavior of inhabitants towards sustainability.