Before & After: From Greenhouse to Sunlit Sanctuary

In the mid-1970s, an expanse of 33 acres housed massive cypress and glass greenhouses near Terre Haute. When these commercial greenhouses were decommissioned, our client's father, along with several skilled craftsmen and homesteaders, salvaged the materials. Utilizing this reclaimed treasure, the client's father constructed an attached structure with an 18/12 pitch/angle, ingeniously harnessing the benefits of the southern sunlight.

Last year, our client approached us with the task of remodeling this unique space while preserving a portion of the greenhouse system that her father had installed five decades ago. The primary objective was to design a new office space within the greenhouse, opening up the rest of the house to the captivating southern light. Additionally, a part of the old cypress and glass greenhouse system was to be reassembled on the west end of the roof structure.

Taking on this challenge, our design team, led by Alex Minor and Russ Herndon, aimed to integrate an office structure into the vast greenhouse area while ensuring optimal insulation and technological comfort, all the while managing the potential heat gain. To achieve this, we collaborated closely with our Velux skylight representative, who provided invaluable expertise in crafting an array of 14 fixed and operable skylights, perfectly nested together. These skylights featured cutting-edge technology, incorporating Low-E and reflective coatings on the glass, as well as solar-activated controlled internal operable shades.

The remarkable result was a 100 square foot skylight section, meticulously integrated into a Douglas fir beam grid. This assembly was meticulously prepared at the Loren Wood Builders shop and then carefully installed into the large, south-facing opening to create a precise and watertight feature.

Among the distinctive elements of this project, we undertook the task of raising and enlarging existing windows, refurbishing and seamlessly integrating the original fir floss, revitalizing the original post and beam structure, and implementing a custom kitchenette.

As an added touch of craftsmanship, our talented team member, Jacob Hyer, crafted a bespoke dining table for the space, featuring ingenious extending functionality.

We are delighted to have been part of this project, weaving together the past and the present to create a space that cherishes heritage while embracing contemporary design and innovation.