Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a greenhouse? Or maybe you’ve dreamed about growing fruit trees but dismissed the idea because your climate is too cold? You’re not alone. This concept of living in, or attached to, a greenhouse is an architectural trend that’s becoming more popular as people realize, and want to experience, the benefits of living closer to nature and the food that they eat.
We’ve had the privilege of working on numerous projects that blend the functionality of greenhouses with residential living. This growing interest in greenhouse living has sparked our curiosity to explore even more architectural possibilities within this space. Before we dive into the exciting projects we’re currently developing at Ceres, let’s first introduce the Naturhus, or “Nature House,” a design concept that represents the pinnacle of greenhouse-home integration—offering the unique opportunity for people to live within a greenhouse.
What is a Nature House?
A Nature House (or Naturhus) is a house within a greenhouse that combines living spaces with enclosed greenhouse spaces, creating an environment where the home is naturally heated by solar energy, and food can be grown year-round within the same structure. The concept of a nature house is a space that usually encompasses the benefits of a controlled environment, providing warmth in winter, cooling in summer, reduces energy costs, and allows for food production.
The first Nature House was built in Sweden in the 1970s by Swedish architect Bengt Warne. The design quickly gained interest in Scandinavia and other regions with cold climates, as it provided a way to use natural heating and energy-saving techniques to reduce reliance on conventional heating systems. The integration of greenhouse space allowed for year-round food production, which was especially important in regions with long winters. Many Naturhus homes also integrate sustainable systems like water harvesting, waste management, and composting, reducing reliance on external resources.
As sustainability and self-sufficiency have become more important to modern homeowners, the Naturhus concept has continued to evolve. Today, many variations of the original design exist, with modern technologies such as solar panels, geothermal systems, and rainwater harvesting being incorporated into new nature house projects.
What are the benefits of an integrated greenhouse and home?
While building a house within a greenhouse is the ultimate greenhouse living solution – especially if you’re looking to add a buffer between your house and the outside elements – there are many ways to integrate greenhouses into a home design. Whether you’re living in or attached to a greenhouse, the benefits are largely the same.
Here are the practical and environmental benefits of house and greenhouse integration:
- Energy Efficiency: A greenhouse can act as a natural heating source by allowing sunlight to enter and warm the home, reducing the need for traditional heating systems. This is especially valuable in colder climates.
- Natural Insulation: The greenhouse acts as an insulating buffer between the home and the outside elements, helping to regulate indoor temperatures and reduce heating and cooling costs.
- Year-Round Food Production: With a greenhouse, you can grow food throughout the year, regardless of the external climate, ensuring a steady supply of fresh produce and reducing dependence on grocery stores.
- Sustainability: If you decide to integrate systems like rainwater harvesting, composting, and energy-efficient heating, a greenhouse home can be much more sustainable, reducing your carbon footprint and reliance on external resources.
- Improved Air Quality: Plants in the greenhouse can improve indoor air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, contributing to a healthier living environment.
- Biodiversity: A nature house allows residences to grow fruits and vegetables that wouldn’t ordinarily be suitable for their climate.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Having a greenhouse integrated into your home creates a unique, natural aesthetic with plenty of light and greenery, improving both the look and feel of your living space.
- Self-Sufficiency: Living with an integrated greenhouse allows you to be more self-sufficient, particularly when it comes to food production, making it easier to live sustainably and reduce grocery expenses.
As we noted, greenhouse living is nothing new, but it is a relatively newer avenue for us at Ceres. Now that we’ve introduced the concept and benefits of greenhouse and house architecture, we’d like to present what we’re working on in this realm.
The Vesta™ kit house: blending affordable housing with energy-efficient greenhouse design
Our first foray into efficient home design is the Vesta™ series kit houses. The design intent was to create a highly insulated, efficient, affordable, and easy to construct home. It also includes a greenhouse portion, providing extra space, a place to produce food year round, and additional heat for the home. While many custom homes are designed very well, they are also expensive. The Vesta™ gives people with smaller budgets the option to get into a well designed house at a fraction of the cost of a custom home. We have found that Vesta™ clients are very excited about the design and performance of the house, as well as the affordability. We look forward to continuing to sell and support our Vesta™ clients as they give us feedback about living in the Vesta™ kit house.
Ceres’ own house in greenhouse concept:
The next step in the house design evolution is the “House in Greenhouse” concept that is gaining popularity in northern Europe. The origin of this idea came from trying to find a cheaper way to expand the utility of summer cabins that traditionally were shut down in the winter. Building a greenhouse over the cabin would allow the cabin to be used year round, without worrying about freezing temperatures damaging the plumbing for structures that were designed for summer use only. The concept has evolved into purpose-driven construction inside the greenhouses, to create truly amazing living spaces and “outdoor” spaces, even though they are actually inside the greenhouse.
Ceres is currently working with clients across the globe to help with this design need. We are working with clients in the middle east who need a buffer from the intense summer heat, and people in northern latitudes who need a buffer from the cold of winter.
The Future of House & Greenhouse Architecture
Ceres is excited to continue exploring the fusion of home comfort and the natural world. The possibilities are endless, and we’re committed to challenging ourselves to deliver high-quality, sustainable house and greenhouse solutions. If you have a Nature House design in mind, contact Ceres today to make it a reality! We enjoy working with creative minded individuals who are willing to push the boundaries of biophilic architecture.
