The Shanghai Expo Cultural Park Greenhouse Project

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20 November 2024

A giant greenhouse at a former industrial site in Shanghai is being celebrated as an innovative integration of nature and architecture.

 

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Designed by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects, the project reuses a steel frame from an industrial hall (the inner-city recreational area was occupied by a coal-fired power plant and a steel works), turning a symbol of industrialisation into a beacon of environmental progress.

Located in the Pudong district of Shanghai, the 35-meter-high structure is a best-in-class example of how greenhouse design can be used in the public realm.

 

Picture: a photograph showing part of the pavilion with a pool. Image Credit: Deluggan Melissa Associated Architects 

 

Traditional greenhouses are associated with commercial crop production, the development of new farming techniques and high energy consumption, due to the need to control the temperature, light, humidity, and ventilation so specifically. However, the Greenhouse Garden in Shanghai is a zero-energy building, achieved by the use of single glazing. Calculations showed that double glazing would be much less efficient, as the reduction in heat loss would be more than cancelled out by the impact of the artificial lighting required by the plants.

Ventilation is controlled by windows in the perforated roof and a pool provides cooling and supplies energy to the greenhouse from PV panels that are located below its surface.

 

Picture: a photograph showing the greenhouse building in the distance. Image Credit: Deluggan Melissa Associated Architects 

 

The building also creates a political statement. The visitor centre presents pressing global issues like water scarcity and climate change, using its thematic pavilions to educate and inspire visitors about sustainable practices. Each pavilion focuses on unique ecological themes, such as desert landscapes, rainforests, and vertical gardens, highlighting the importance of preserving diverse ecosystems.

 

Picture: a photograph showing the greenhouse building from the water. Image Credit: Deluggan Melissa Associated Architects 

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 20 November 2024

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