Rediscovering glass artistry: Could this be the ideal setting for a sustainable family gathering in a greenhouse?
Multi-Functional Aluminum Greenhouse Enhances Year-Round Gardening and Leisure
A multi-functional greenhouse, located in the grounds of a listed 18th-century house, offers a unique blend of durability, weather-resistance, and versatility. The space, overlooking a natural swimming pool and boasting views of the surrounding countryside, is designed to look like a Victorian kitchen garden, constructed from reclaimed bricks.
Key components and design elements include a corrosion-resistant powder-coated aluminum frame and UV-resistant polycarbonate panels. The frame ensures structural strength and longevity against weather elements, while keeping the structure lightweight and easy to assemble. The walls and roof utilize polycarbonate panels that allow beneficial light transmission but block harmful UV rays, protecting plants and enhancing growth.
To maintain optimal growing conditions, the design incorporates adjustable roof vents and large opening doors for smooth air circulation, preventing overheating and excessive humidity inside the greenhouse. Heating features, such as a log-burning stove and infra-red heat lamps, extend the usability to year-round growth of plants sensitive to cold. The log-burning stove provides a sustainable, off-grid heating source, while infra-red heat lamps supplement heating, offering targeted warmth to plants and maintaining stable temperatures.
Beyond its role as a greenhouse, this multi-functional space can serve as a leisure or sunroom, accommodating gardening tools, pots, and seating areas. Structural designs may include features like ground stakes or brackets for stability, rain gutters for drainage, and optional benches or shelves for efficient plant arrangement.
Materials and equipment must be chosen for durability and safety. Aluminum frames resist rust, polycarbonate panels endure impact and weather, while heating devices need safe integration with fire protection and proper ventilation to avoid hazards.
In addition to this greenhouse, other structures in the area showcase similar design elements. For instance, an oak-framed orangery extension accommodates a grand piano, while a Thyme Dwarf Wall model greenhouse, made in Bolton, is powder coated in Olive and features traditional crestings and finials. Another bespoke free-standing aluminium glasshouse is made by Griffin Glasshouses, complete with vents to provide good air draw and keep the temperature cool on hot days.
Amelia Thorpe, a design and interiors journalist and regular contributor to the platform, lives in London with her husband and two dogs. She has been instrumental in highlighting the benefits and design aspects of such greenhouses, emphasizing their potential for year-round gardening and leisure use.
The multi-functional greenhouse can be transformed into an outdoor living space, blending gardening and lifestyle, offering a perfect home-and-garden setup with its versatile design and weather-resistant materials. The greenhouse's adjustable roof vents, large opening doors, and optional seating areas encourage leisurely activities along with efficient plant growth.
