A classic wide-span greenhouse is located on an idyllic location next to the river Gein, south of Amsterdam, in Abcoude. The Greenhouse, once used at the Floriade of 1972 in Amstelpark, Amsterdam, has except from it’s traditional use, the additional function of gathering place for the two brothers, their family and friends. The greenhouse once belonged to the father. Since 4 years, the brothers start using the place. Studio Paulien Bremmer was asked to develop a plan for the use, design and transformation proces of the place. The idea is to develop the greenhouse and it’s garden further in a place to stay, work, eat and occasional overnight. The greenhouse might incidentally house a more public program like an exhibition or projectspace. The transformation of use is designed as a slow process instigated by a follow up of acupuncture like interventions; a scenario to experiment and improvise upon according wishes possibilities and needs.
All interventions are as circular as possible. Over time a lot of wood, glass and tiles are stored. The tiles are used up-side-down to level the floor and create a maximum accessibility of the greenhouse. After this first intervention the follow up is the building of a adobe wall creating different gradations of privacy in the space. Soil tests pointed out there was a substantial amount of clay in the ground. After testing different recipes for the adobe bricks in a few workshop days with help of 60 hands, 700 bricks where made. After three weeks sun-drying, the DIY-wall has been bricked with an invisible mud groud.
The wall leaves a hole in the ground which will be the layout for the future natural pool. Upcoming interventions are o.a. an accessible compost toilet, a sliding greenhouse door out of recycled glass, 2 king-size straw beds and a sun power-shower
