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This Dutch ‘Greenhouse’ project is more than just an eco-home, it’s a lifestyle

9 min read

Sustainable Planet
Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse-on-site

In the heart of the Dutch countryside, ‘GREENHOUSE’ embodies the classic look of a wooden barn and the typical framework of Dutch greenhouses, where reused materials combined with DIY community-based building have created a low impact and comfortable living environment for families.

Superuse developed this exceptional living unit for The New World Foundation

In the heart of the Dutch countryside of Drenthe, Superuse on Site designed and developed an exceptional living unit for the The New World Foundation. Formed in 1969, this international community is one of the oldest in The Netherlands. The collective owns 10 hectares (25 acres) of land, where they live following a sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle, ecological thinking, and spiritual awareness. Superuse, you may remember, are the same people responsible for repurposing discarded wind turbine blades into playgrounds and street furniture. Scroll down for a gallery of facts & photos of this beautiful and efficient home. 

Design a flexible house for two families in the community that can be transformed, if needed, into a home for four-families in the future. The house must represent an example of a living unit that utilises as little energy as possible for heating and ventilation, be built with as little impact as possible during construction, and once in use. There was a budget of €250,000; exceeding this would be at the expense of the social sustainability of the community. It is preferably to be built from bio-based materials and reused components, with a natural look. © Denis Guzzo
Assignment for Superuse on site: Design a flexible house for two families in the community that can be transformed, if needed, into a home for four-families in the future. The house must represent an example of a living unit that utilises as little energy as possible for heating and ventilation, be built with as little impact as possible during construction, and once in use. There was a budget of €250,000; exceeding this would be at the expense of the social sustainability of the community. It is preferably to be built from bio-based materials and reused components, with a natural look. © Denis Guzzo Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
The design and sustainability principles adapted to these primary conditions and available resources. Thanks to the building skills of the owners and volunteers and the low-tech climatic approach, S.o.s. was able to develop this outstanding project within the given budget.
Superuse on Site approached the initial phase of the design process by living at the location for a month, creating an inventory of the available materials on site, the various local flows, and the skills available among the community. The design and sustainability principles adapted to these primary conditions and available resources. Thanks to the building skills of the owners and volunteers and the low-tech climatic approach, S.o.s. was able to develop this outstanding project within the given budget. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
By choice, most of the design was created on-site, allowing for direct dialogue and decision-making with the community, and for making the most of direct observations of the flows of materials, functions, and the climate study across the seasons.
An ecosystem of disciplines. By choice, most of the design was created on-site, allowing for direct dialogue and decision-making with the community, and for making the most of direct observations of the flows of materials, functions, and the climate study across the seasons. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
S.os then worked closely with SUS ateliers whose teachers and students developed climate models and calculations.
An initial concept of a mud house in a glasshouse was further developed to a mud coated and wooden cladded strawbale house merged with a glasshouse. S.os then worked closely with SUS ateliers whose teachers and students developed climate models and calculations. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
Though the project was supervised by the architects and advisors an environment was created to learn and share knowledge. Furthermore, to feed and house all the volunteer workers with healthy and organic food, the community developed additional facilities.
The northern facade with limited windows to optimise the internal micro-climates. Though the project was supervised by the architects and advisors an environment was created to learn and share knowledge. Furthermore, to feed and house all the volunteer workers with healthy and organic food, the community developed additional facilities. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
A bakery was set up, and the local company Westerzwam implemented mushroom cultivation on coffee grounds from the daily coffee breaks of a nearby military base.
The gardens were cultivated to provide a variety of vegetables. A bakery was set up, and the local company Westerzwam implemented mushroom cultivation on coffee grounds from the daily coffee breaks of a nearby military base. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
The facilities created to support the building process resulted in a relevant upgrade that has strengthened local food production and economy. They remain in use for communal dinners, bartering, trading food with neighbors and friends, and hosting visitors.
In addition, a workshop, a canteen with a cafeteria, and several tiny houses were built across the plot of land. The facilities created to support the building process resulted in a relevant upgrade that has strengthened local food production and economy. They remain in use for communal dinners, bartering, trading food with neighbors and friends, and hosting visitors. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
The sketch design for the GreenHouse was converted into a shopping list of building materials to be ‘harvested’. Inhabitants and volunteers were trained by Superuse, joining together as the ‘Harvest Team’, scouting and listing suitable material options.
Most materials for the GreenHouse were found either on-site or at neighbouring properties. The sketch design for the GreenHouse was converted into a shopping list of building materials to be ‘harvested’. Inhabitants and volunteers were trained by Superuse, joining together as the ‘Harvest Team’, scouting and listing suitable material options. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
As a result, most materials for the GreenHouse were found either on-site or at neighboring properties. Superuse method is adaptive; many details were not pre-defined but created during the construction process, adapting to the chosen materials and their peculiarities.
From these findings, the final selection of materials was based on their potential, price, transport distance and logistics, and prioritising the most natural and durable. As a result, most materials for the GreenHouse were found either on-site or at neighboring properties. Superuse method is adaptive; many details were not pre-defined but created during the construction process, adapting to the chosen materials and their peculiarities. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
Many details were not pre-defined but created during the construction process, adapting to the chosen materials and their peculiarities.
Superuse method is adaptive; Many details were not pre-defined but created during the construction process, adapting to the chosen materials and their peculiarities. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
All materials were harvested from local businesses and farmers.
The wooden skeleton, efficiently upcycled, offered flexibility for DIY construction, layout variants, and reuse. All materials were harvested from local businesses and farmers. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
Implementing passive climatisation approaches with optimal orientation, sizing and zoning, thick insulation, and the mass of clay flooring, two mass-heaters, and 16 PV/warm water panels are more than enough added technology to create a comfortable living environment.
The attached greenhouse has been reinforced with standard greenhouse materials such that it complies with building regulations. Implementing passive climatisation approaches with optimal orientation, sizing and zoning, thick insulation, and the mass of clay flooring, two mass-heaters, and 16 PV/warm water panels are more than enough added technology to create a comfortable living environment. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
The house is designed and built to be adaptable and last for many generations. It can breathe thanks to the straw/clay walls, it is naturally ventilated, and it supplies electricity, resulting in only a short wood heating season being needed. Positioning, orientation, size, and shape are fine-tuned to optimise the internal climate across the seasons.
Durability and low energy consumption. The house is designed and built to be adaptable and last for many generations. It can breathe thanks to the straw/clay walls, it is naturally ventilated, and it supplies electricity, resulting in only a short wood heating season being needed. Positioning, orientation, size, and shape are fine-tuned to optimise the internal climate across the seasons. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
Low vegetation on the north facade enhances privacy and cooling ventilation, while a row of trees on the south can provide more shade in the summer. Because of this position, the house warms itself with the low winter sun.
Sun, shadow, and prevailing winds analysis were taken into account when locating the GreenHouse on the property. Low vegetation on the north facade enhances privacy and cooling ventilation, while a row of trees on the south can provide more shade in the summer. Because of this position, the house warms itself with the low winter sun. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
During the summer period, a cool air flow is created from the shaded north microclimate where windows are minimalized to provide light where needed. The locally sourced highly insulating straw walls provide insulation the whole year.
Insulation, zoning, buffering reduces heating, cooling and daylighting needs. During the summer period, a cool air flow is created from the shaded north microclimate where windows are minimalized to provide light where needed. The locally sourced highly insulating straw walls provide insulation the whole year. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
When appropriately exposed or shaded from the sun’s rays, this thermal mass helps to stabilise the interior temperature by slowly releasing warmth or cool.
Clay was sourced from directly next to the house, applied as a 6 cm layer to the straw bale walls and as a 30cm layer on top of the concrete foundation over the entire ground floor. When appropriately exposed or shaded from the sun’s rays, this thermal mass helps to stabilise the interior temperature by slowly releasing warmth or cool. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
Functions needing more daylight and warmth (living, dining, cooking, study, and play) are grouped and zoned towards the natural daylight and warmer southern side. Functions needing less light and warmth (storage, hallways, stairs, bedrooms, and bathrooms) are grouped and zoned toward the darker and cooler northern side and attic.
Core living and daytime spaces are buffered from unwanted heat gain or heat loss. Functions needing more daylight and warmth (living, dining, cooking, study, and play) are grouped and zoned towards the natural daylight and warmer southern side. Functions needing less light and warmth (storage, hallways, stairs, bedrooms, and bathrooms) are grouped and zoned toward the darker and cooler northern side and attic. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
The updraft of hot air generated can move either warm or cool air through the house, depending on which window and door vents are opened or closed. All internal doors have ventilation grills, and all windows have ventilation and two settings to manually regulate the flow of air.
When the sun shines, the air in the glasshouse warms quickly, creating a stack effect. The updraft of hot air generated can move either warm or cool air through the house, depending on which window and door vents are opened or closed. All internal doors have ventilation grills, and all windows have ventilation and two settings to manually regulate the flow of air. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
This increases the insulation value of the southern facade by an additional Rc of 0.2. Combined with individually managed internal thermal curtains, the two layers add an additional Rc of 2 giving a total Rc of 4.2 for the southern facade at night.
The glasshouse reduces heat loss from the main house as windows are protected from cooling wind and rain. This increases the insulation value of the southern facade by an additional Rc of 0.2. Combined with individually managed internal thermal curtains, the two layers add an additional Rc of 2 giving a total Rc of 4.2 for the southern facade at night. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
As well as monitoring the climate response of the building after delivery, S.o.s. also provided general guidelines for optimising the different aspects of the passive climatisation system, such as the addition of shading curtains for the big glass facade, the manual mechanism for roof openings, and other guidelines that prioritise the active use of the passive house design features for a low energy consumption but still comfortable living.
Comfortable living was factored into the design. As well as monitoring the climate response of the building after delivery, S.o.s. also provided general guidelines for optimising the different aspects of the passive climatisation system, such as the addition of shading curtains for the big glass facade, the manual mechanism for roof openings, and other guidelines that prioritise the active use of the passive house design features for a low energy consumption but still comfortable living. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
Detail of the master bedroom in the attic, second floor. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
GreenHouse and the local community have been the perfect project to implement this interaction of disciplines, based on more than two decades of Superuse’s experience with workshops and project management.
While Superuse is known for reuse, this has been only one aspect of designing sustainable architecture from its start in 1997; Superuse is also investigating other aspects and flows such as energy, water, food, and local economies. GreenHouse and the local community have been the perfect project to implement this interaction of disciplines, based on more than two decades of Superuse’s experience with workshops and project management. Source: © Denis Guzzo/Superuse on Site
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