Greenhouse 'transforms' from gem to crown

The 141m2 Glasshouse greenhouse grows rare plants, which can be opened and closed to protect the plants inside depending on weather conditions.

British company Heatherwick Studio has completed the construction of an impressive dynamic greenhouse, New Atlas reported on June 29. Named Glasshouse, the structure looks like a giant gem when closed and an eye-catching crown when opened.

The glasshouse closes in cold weather to protect the plants inside, forming a gem-like shape. (Photo: Hufton Crow)

The Glasshouse was built for the National Trust - a heritage conservation organization in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This conservatory sits on the edge of Woolbed Gardens, the site of a historic estate in West Sussex, England.

The design of the Glasshouse is inspired by early Victorian glass aquariums and comes in the form of 10 individual sepals made of steel, glass and aluminum. During cold weather, the greenhouse will close to protect the plants inside. On warmer days, the top slowly opens thanks to a hidden hydraulic system. This process completes in about 4 minutes. The greenhouse then transforms into an open crown-like structure, allowing the plants exposure to fresh air, while ensuring they grow at the ideal temperature.

Glasshouse opens in about 4 minutes thanks to a hydraulic system.

The interior area of ​​Glasshouse is 141m2, currently used to grow rare and vulnerable plants, in addition to some small trees and bananas. Surrounding the greenhouse is a larger garden. Before reaching the greenhouse, visitors will walk through an ancient Silk Road-inspired area that straddles Asia and Europe with more than 300 species of plants.

"This is a literal open project. You walk through the beautiful garden and discover a structure that starts out like a gem, then ends up like a crown, as the greenhouse slowly opens up. ", said Thomas Heatherwick, founder of Heatherwick Studio.

The Glasshouse project is completed after 6 years of development, construction, testing and cultivation. This is Heatherwick Studio's second small-scale project recently, following the Tree of Trees project in Westminster.