Visionary architects putting nature into the foundation

Although gardens are one of life’s greatest pleasures, they are often seen as expendable. And given the prevalence of high-density urban living, it might seem understandable that many people use plants as stylish props—a large ficus tree to brighten up a living room, or a graceful hanging philodendron to soften the lines of a bookshelf.

But as plants and closeness to nature increasingly prove to improve our lives, making us calmer, more productive, happier and healthier, the way we invite nature into our living spaces needs a rethink – and we need to put it at the heart of our lives more often. life. design process.

Interventions can be small, such as houses where trees grow from floorboards, or workspaces with flower pots built into the structure. Plantings can also be part of a larger concept—homes with internal gardens growing directly from the soil beneath the foundation, or buildings enclosed in a shell that allows gardens and mini-agricultural systems to thrive in harsh climates. This is architecture that brings the outside inside.

These ideas are gaining popularity. They grew out of an established history of innovative architects seeking to bring nature into their designs. One example is the Featherston House in Melbourne, Australia, designed in the late 1960s by architect Robin Boyd for furniture designers Grant and Mary Featherston. Even today the house seems ghostly. Without a concrete foundation, his indoor garden grows straight from the ground, and species such as climbing Swiss cheese (Monstera adansonii), bird’s nest fern (Asplenium nidus) and prickly moss (Selaginella spp) give the house a forest-like appearance. feel.

The home’s living spaces are located on platforms suspended above the garden, blurring the boundaries between the built and natural environments, suggesting that they are of equal importance. It helped create “a connection between family, work and nature,” Mary says. Featuring a south-facing glass façade, the open-plan home is filled with natural light and offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

As current owners Julian and Vicky Featherston attest, the home is as close to outdoor space as it gets. “The idea of ​​being ‘true to materials’ was part of the original concept,” says Vicky, referring to the philosophy that materials should be used in their most natural state, “and that’s something we’ve tried to maintain throughout the life of the house ” ” This applies to both the rough-sawn Oregon beams and the planting style.

The platforms are also being used to enable natural interactions at PSLab Lighting’s UK headquarters. In 2019, artists James Russell and Hannah Plumb of JAMESPLUMB were asked to transform a former tannery in south London into a workspace that would encourage creativity and collaboration – a challenge they approached the factories with. The designers describe how to strip the space down to the ground and create an “interior concrete landscape” in an open-plan warehouse, using different levels to create tables, benches and planters.

The latter features a number of indoor plants – various ficuses, Zanzibar pearl (Zamioculcas zamiifolia).)a variety of philodendron, a cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior) and a graphic Never-Never plant (Ctenanthe spp.) soften and enliven the brutalist aesthetic. According to the designers, these built-in pots create the feeling that the greenery is “planted in the building itself.” . . part of it.” Plants that grow well in light from warehouse windows provide screening, creating small nooks in the space.

The tree reaching the central atrium has become a member of the family, growing next to three small children.

In Kyoto, on a site tightly surrounded by neighboring houses, 07BEACH architects and their client eschewed a traditional back-garden layout in favor of a playful floor plan revolving around a large weeping fig (Ficus benjamina).

Joe Chikamori originally came up with the idea for a courtyard with glass windows, but changed his mind: “The glass-enclosed courtyard wasn’t inviting, and the rest of the living room, cut off by the courtyard, felt cramped.” By combining the two spaces, he was able to create a sense of flow in the home. The tree reaching the central atrium has become a member of the family, growing next to three small children.

Where there is room for a garden, houses built around a single tree can create a striking connection between the building and its surroundings. River House, designed by Susi Leeton Architects + Interiors in Melbourne, Australia, features a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) growing from the wooden floors of the main street. Located beneath a frameless skylight, it reflects the lush landscaping by Myles Baldwin Design. Its deciduous leaves also form a living sculpture, changing with the seasons. In her approach, Leaton was aware of the “blurring of inside and outside, with no clear boundaries to create the feeling that you are sitting inside the landscape.”

Extreme weather conditions often stimulate internal and external innovation. In Hepburn Springs, Victoria, Australian architects Partners Hill and owners Trace Streeter and Ronnen Goren created Daylesford Longhouse in response to the open space and abundance of local wildlife. It’s a kind of giant greenhouse that not only has living quarters, but also a garden with nut and fruit trees, as well as many native species.

Self-sufficiency is key: the roof collects rainwater and the animals living at one end of the property help create compost for the garden. According to Ronnen, the design “strengthened the connection between people, food and sources.”

The design is similar to the so-called Naturhus, prototyped by Swedish architect Bengt Warn in the 1970s, where houses were covered with casings to protect them from the cold Scandinavian winters. The idea has recently been picked up by Swedish company Greenhouse Living, whose projects include a greenhouse, a main house and an eco-cycle system.

At Rosenlund Naturhus in Vadstena, southern Sweden, the house is now surrounded by a temperate Mediterranean climate, allowing its occupants to be in close contact with nature even during the cold and dark winter months. Even species that are difficult to grow in Sweden can thrive, including grapes, olives and figs. Moreover, architect and co-founder Fredrik Olson describes the idea of ​​Naturhus as “an eco-friendly building that produces food instead of waste.” A home that generates energy rather than just consumes it. . . Sustainable architecture that promotes truly sustainable living.”

The success of any indoor garden requires careful maintenance. But rather than being a burden, this daily routine can be a nourishing and even therapeutic experience. By incorporating nature into architecture, the reward will be buildings that allow us to return to our roots.

“Outside In: Thoughtful Interiors Inspired by the Natural World” by Lauren Camilleri and Sophia Kaplan (Smith Street Books)

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