Greenhouse architecture

The new Demonstration Centre will be located at the entrance of the Eco Valley area in Beijing. The center wants to show the newest technologies for sustainable growth of vegetables, fruits and flowers. COFCO aspires a Demonstration Center where agriculture, ecology and leisure come together. In the center visitors can experience and enjoy the production and taste of fresh food and flowers throughout the year. van Bergen Kolpa Architecten The building is a proud building; a transparent sculpture of steel and glass based on a standard Dutch greenhouse type. The special entrance and wetland garden form the high and spacious heart of the building. From this central hall the volume terraces down to the agriculture and leisure zones. The b... More

An emblematic element of the identity of Westmount dating from 1927, the Palmhouse or Westmount Conservatory is one of the finest examples of Victorian greenhouse construction in North America. The restoration of this seriously deteriorated heritage structure was realized with a high level of craftmanship: structural elements, assemblies, building fabric, and details were all respectful of the original structure. The project also re-examines the plantation basins, integrating them within a new interpretation circuit. Caption The project is sensitive to the idea of addressing heritage, social, and economic issues in an integrated manner.  The project designers developed a long-term vision of a greenhouse that is at once a communit... More

Agrotopia, a rooftop greenhouse in Roeselare, Belgium, is the largest research center in Europe dedicated to urban food production. Designed by van Bergen Kolpa Architects in collaboration with Meta architectuurbureau, the project demonstrates the potential of rooftop horticulture. With its glass facades, prominent entrance staircase, and layered functions, the building investigates intensive space use, circular energy and water systems, and approaches to making greenhouse cultivation more sustainable. Agrotopia is located on the roof of a fruit and vegetable auction facility along the ring road of Roeselare, a hub for produce distribution in West Flanders. With wide views over the city and surrounding area, the project positions urban hor... More

For this project, the challenge was to design a space for a family of four, with three bedrooms, within an existing penthouse loft that only had a single west-facing exposure. All bedrooms, the kitchen, living room, and master bathroom needed to receive ample natural light and air. We solved this by introducing a centrally placed light well, which also serves as a lush greenhouse. This verdant space, filled with plants, brings natural light deep into the heart of the home, transforming the light well into a living feature that fosters a serene connection to nature. Its presence infuses the home with warmth, while also promoting natural ventilation throughout. The light well becomes the home's heart, with the key living areas arranged aroun... More