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The green surroundings, and the development of a new typology of affordable houses, following traditional construction regulations, are the starting points for the concept of a greenhouse dwelling.

A ready-made steel construction, to be divided up freely, and encased in sheet walls of greenhouse profiles, is the archetype of this box-house. The body forms a qualitative, continuous space over the different building layers.

The walls are a combination of transparent, super-insulating glass parts and translucent polycarbonate plates, behind which is put insulation, depending on orientation and required privacy.


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Exterior of the Greenhouse facing the backyard (Click on this and all of the images to get a detailed view)
Photography by Luc Roymans

The reflections of the glass skin, together with the green-yellow sheen of the insulation through the polycarbonate sheets, lodges the house perfectly in the environment, in a subordinate position to the age-old trees.


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Exterior of the Greenhouse facing the street
Photography by Luc Roymans

A detailed specification, an extreme standardization, a very high insulation level, the integration of ecologically sound techniques, a minimum use of materials and a maximum use of space create a sustainable house at a reasonable price.


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Facade facing the street
Photography by Luc Roymans

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Spiral steel staircase leading to the elevated patio
Photography by Luc Roymans

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The elevated patio allows views through the glass walls into the living and dining area
Photography by Luc Roymans

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Interior of the living and dining area
Photography by Luc Roymans

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Open views and lots of light also in the hallway leading to the staircase
Photography by Luc Roymans

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The industrial style staircase
Photography by Luc Roymans

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Living and dining area
Photography by Luc Roymans

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Concrete kitchen island and rustic wooden dining table
Photography by Luc Roymans

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The open glass wall towards the private yard floods the kitchen area with natural light
Photography by Luc Roymans


Verdickt & Verdickt ARCHITECTEN
The office was founded in 1998 by Nico and Carl Verdickt, two brothers born in Antwerp in 1970 and 1973. After their studies at the Henry van de Velde institute in Antwerp, and Duncanstone College of Art, Dundee, for Nico and the Ecole de Paris-Belleville in Paris for Carl, both developed a strongly divergent but complementary approach to the practice of architecture. It is this complementarity between a strongly conceptual, theoretical perspective and a technical elaboration focused on implementation, which forms the basis of their projects.

AWARDS:
2008, Nomination ‘Steel building competition’, ‘Belgian Building Awards’, glass house; 2005, 'Antwerp – Residential Town’, apartments; 2004, ' Antwerp Monuments award, rebuilding of a warehouse; 2002, Nomination 'Belgian Architecture Awards’, rebuilding of a warehouse; 2001, 'Renospecto Award', rebuilding of a warehouse.

COMPETITIONS:
1ste prices-: 2007, WDT hangar Park-Spoor-Noord, Antwerp; 2006, community centre and, Opglabbeek; 2005, 5 city houses, Antwerp; 2004, community centre, Stekene.


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