Mountain Greenhouse

Mountain Greenhouse is built on a steep southern facing slope in the Cowichan Valley in a previously cleared portion of a heavily treed property. The greenhouse intends to form the central hub for homesteading on the property, with year-round functionality for sub-tropical perennial plants, shoulder-season crops and eventual wood-fired cooking and sauna sessions.

The design utilized Douglas Fir for the main frame, from the owner’s property and a mix of reclaimed and new cedar siding and cladding, placed appropriately to ensure a water-tight construction. Large (11ft x 3ft) double-pane windows fill the south wall and a double walled polycarbonate is used on the roof.

The building features an insulated foundation perimeter and interior water barrels for heat storage and large vents at the front wall and roof peak for ventilation. The features allowing heat retention and release allow the building to provide a regulated indoor temperature in the most passive way possible in the local climate.