Inspiration for this project initially came to me when thinking about the work-from-home movement prompted by the pandemic. I started to think about my journey of going through school during these times. I thought about first and second-year university, pre-pandemic, in the studio, bouncing ideas off one another and coming up with unique and creative concepts. Looking back, it made me realize how powerful collaboration is, how good it makes you feel, and how special it is when multiple minds come together and think the unthinkable. That's why the ethos at Greenhouse is collaboration > competition.
Conceptually, Greenhouse is deeply inspired by mushrooms and their rebellious force within nature - the game changers of the ecosystem.
Atmospherically Greenhouse is a whimsical and biophilic design experience. The design is motivated by the intricacies, repetitions, and patterns in nature and using them to embrace diversity through variations within the space.
Greenhouse is a co-working space focused on sustainable entrepreneurs and academics. This co-working space includes amenities such as childcare, food and beverage and is surrounded by beautiful indoor gardens. The use of biophilic design will reduce stress, improve cognitive function, increase creativity, and improve users' overall well-being. The project title 'Greenhouse' is driven by the word culture, which originated from the Latin word cultura, which means the growing of plants. Thereupon, it could be deduced that the growing of plants contributed to the foundation of civilization. The word academics is derived from the garden of Academus, which is where Plato taught. Plato believed that all constructive and academic work should be done in gardens.
Designed to full embrace human nature, the Greenhouse will create a positive nurture environment while wholly accepting all things the earth has to offer. Greenhouse is a space where sustainably driven companies, start-ups, or individuals can increase their productivity and maximize their potential. The mission at Greenhouse is to strengthen and uplift one another rather than fixating on the competitive nature humans can tend towards. Greenhouse will host a diverse group of people with a multitude of knowledge and backgrounds. Having a broad range of users from several disciplines encourages members to collaborate and create. The ultimate goal of this project is growth within the gardens, the children in the daycare, and the companies occupying the workspace. Growth will come naturally by having a community around you and lifting you up, in a space that makes breathing easy.
The Funki Fungi Bistro and the Sprouts daycare are located on the main floor plan. The Bistro, located at the bottom of the page, is a public space where anyone is welcome to come in and enjoy tasty vegetarian food in a funki atmosphere. To the left of the bistro is the main entrance to Greenhouse, where a staff member will greet you at the service counter. Here is where you can acquire a Greenhouse membership. Members of the co-working space will have access to the building 24/7 via key cards, and security is always on duty. Once you enter the space, a ramp leads to Sprouts Daycare, or the elevator and stairs take you to the co-working space. The layout of Sprouts Daycare floor plan is intended to evoke a calm yet playful emotion. The daycare has an arts and crafts zone, a play area, a quiet area, and a napping room. The millwork in the center of the space, inspired by the bow river surrounding us, is intended to break up the quiet and louder areas.
The upper floor plan is where the Greenhouse Co-working space is located. Upon entering the space, the user is greeted with the locker room to store any belongings. On the lower half of the plan with the wood floors is an open work area with a mix of desks and office chairs and more casual work seating to suit everyone's needs in a workplace. The kitchen is adjacent to the open work area; the kitchen is the heart of the space and the main social gathering point. Behind the kitchen are the gender-neutral washrooms and three small meeting rooms around. Finally, the upper half of the floor plan consists of one small meeting room, two large meeting rooms, private cubicles for focused work, the 'decompose zone,' which is essentially a lounging room. And in the top left corner, we have the collaboration room for people to work, create, and explore together.
The main entrance to the Greenhouse is intended to make a statement and invoke curiosity from the bistro users. In order to attract people to the Greenhouse, the entry is complete with an architectural bench feature, hanging plants, funky finishes, and aquaponic gardens.
The aquaponic gardens are another way in which the building is cyclical. There are fish within the tank, and the fish poo actually fertilizes the plants in the garden providing the space with stunning, healthy plants.
The organic structure in the center of the space is made up of repeating elements, which brings harmony and rhythm into the space. This volumetric, although its elements are light and feathery, the way it connects to the beam and the planter box provides a sense of groundedness in the space.
The round elements within the space are inspired by the notion of creating a cyclical economy within the space. The food sold in the Bistro comes from vegetables grown in the vertical gardens; the food scraps then go into the compost, which will turn into rich, healthy soil. Everything used within the Bistro is compostable or reusable.
Most of the furniture within the space is foldable and moveable so that the area is flexible and can host many different small events, concerts, open mic nights, and any other community event.
The overall atmosphere I was trying to achieve was one that is whimsical, earthy, and of course, funki. The natural elements and neutral palette create a calm and comfortable environment.
The materials and furniture used in the daycare are simple, durable, and natural. The natural and simple elements in the design are intended not to overstimulate the kids and provide them with a tranquil space that they can bring life to.
The furniture and material for the co-working space are intended to make the users feel at ease. The furniture was selected with the idea of collaboration in mind because at the core; this space is about bringing people together.
Genevieve de Soto
403.688.0914
gdeso343@mtroyal.ca