Sustainable Hothouse / C.F. Møller

Architects: C.F. Møller
Area: 3300 m²
Year: 2012
Photographs: Julian Weyer, Quintin Lake
Landscape: C.F. Møller Architects
Engineering: Søren Jensen Rådgivende Ingeniører
Architect In Charge: C.F. Møller Architects
City: Aarhus
Country: Denmark

The Sustainable Hothouse at Aarhus Botanic Garden, designed by C.F. Møller Architects in collaboration with Søren Jensen Rådgivende Ingeniørfirma, integrates sustainable design, new materials, and advanced technology. The project respects the original 1969 snail-shaped hothouse, blending the new structure harmoniously with the old. The new hothouse features an organic form and large volume, providing an immersive experience through various climate zones. Energy efficiency is achieved by optimizing form, orientation, and sunlight use. The project also involved restoring the old hothouse and transforming the palm house into a botanical knowledge center.

C.F. Møller Architects, in collaboration with Søren Jensen Rådgivende Ingeniørfirma, won the architectural competition for a new hothouse in Aarhus Botanic Garden. The design incorporates sustainable solutions, new materials, and advanced computer technology to create an organic form.

The snail-shaped hothouse at Aarhus Botanic Garden, designed by C.F. Møller Architects in 1969, is a recognized national icon in hothouse architecture, well-integrated with its natural surroundings. When designing the new hothouse, it was essential to respect and preserve these existing architectural values.

Tom Danielsen, architect and partner at C.F. Møller Architects, stated, “The competition aimed for an independent and distinctive new palm house, but it was crucial for us to ensure that the new building harmonizes and functions well with the existing one.”

The new hothouse’s organic form and spacious interior, which allows visitors to explore among the treetops, offer an immersive experience of botany and various climate zones. This design makes the Aarhus hothouse a standout attraction in European hothouse architecture.

Energy Design
The design of the new hothouse focuses on energy efficiency, utilizing energy-conserving solutions alongside advanced knowledge of materials, indoor climate, and technology. These elements work together to optimize the building’s performance and sustainability.

Using advanced calculations, the architects and engineers optimized the building’s structure to ensure an ideal balance between form and energy consumption, maximizing the use of sunlight. The hothouse’s domed shape and specific orientation were carefully chosen because this configuration provides the smallest surface area relative to its volume, allowing for maximum sunlight in winter and minimal sunlight in summer. This precise design reduces energy consumption while enhancing the internal climate conditions for the plants and visitors.

Botanical Knowledge Center
The project also includes a comprehensive restoration of the old hothouse, where the palm house will be transformed into a new botanical knowledge center designed for the general public. This restoration is accompanied by the addition of a new tropical hothouse, expanding the complex. The entire project was completed in 2013, aiming to enhance public engagement with botany and offer educational opportunities within the garden.