HISTORISCHES GEWÄCHSHAUS GRAZ

The Botanical Garden of the University of Graz is home to a unique piece of history

The Botanical Garden of the University of Graz is home to a unique piece of history: a 19th-century greenhouse that is the only surviving example of university glasshouse architecture from that era.

However, after years of neglect, the greenhouse was in desperate need of renovation to bring it back to life.

The Challenge: Precise heat regulation, complex shapes, historic conservation

The project presented several challenges, including the need for precise heat regulation, the complexity of the greenhouse’s various sections, and the need to preserve the historic structure while also making necessary additions.

To tackle these challenges, the team responsible for the renovation had to fi nd a way to accurately regulate the climate inside the greenhouse for optimal plant cultivation, experiments, and research. Additionally, they had to ensure that any additions to the greenhouse were sensitive to its protected status and complemented the aesthetics of the surrounding steel and glass.

Given the complex shapes of the five different sections of the greenhouse, this required a variety of different shapes, sizes, and fixing methods to be used.

The Solution: A bespoke shading solution.

The team at Guthrie Douglas and Hellsan collaborated closely with the client to find the perfect solution for this project. They specified a variety of different shapes and sizes of blinds both internally and externally. Aesthetic finishes were coordinated with the client to ensure conservation principles were met. Specific technical fabrics were selected that met both the aesthetic and technical requirements and could be used inside and outside.

In total 4 different systems were designed to create a harmonised, all-round shading solution. Angled hem bars were used for the internal blinds to follow the structure and provide complete coverage of the glass.

The client, the University of Graz, was thrilled with the outcome of the project. They stated, “We commissioned Guthrie Douglas and Hellsan for this project because of their reputation for designing and successfully delivering genuinely bespoke solutions. We are delighted with the installed shading solutions which are both sensitive to the historic context and effective in regulating the internal temperature.”

The project was completed with sensitivity to the protected status of the structure and complemented the aesthetics of the surrounding steel and glass, preserving the historical significance of the greenhouse while also meeting all the necessary technical requirements for plant cultivation, experiments and research.