Here’s a unique roof! Well OK, it’s not exactly a roof but more or less the exterior of a massive greenhouse in Carmarthenshire, Great Britain, but it’s still amazing to look at! Designed by Foster + Partners, the enormous structure contains more than a thousand plant species (many endangered) and utilizes many sustainable strategies like an energy-optimizing computer-controlled heating system, an aluminum glazing system, rainwater catchment and a biomass boiler, according to a recent post on Inhabitat.com.
From Inhabitat:
Equipped with an aluminum glazing system and tubular-steel supporting structure that minimize materials while maximizing light transmission, the clear roof measures 99 by 55 meters and rests on twenty-four arches. Since the area can be quite cold in the winter, the building’s concrete substructure is banked to the north to provide protection from northerly winds. It’s also partially hidden by a blanket of turf so that three of the entrances appear to be cut discreetly into the hillside.
