Architectural photography of the Glasshouse, Ardoch, by Moxon Architects.
At the back of the Ardoch site, a former collapsed farm store and sheepfold has been converted into a glasshouse, partially integrated into the hillside’s bedrock by an existing retaining wall. This granite wall now supports vines and lemon trees, serving as a thermal mass that absorbs heat from the southwest-facing glass wall and roof. The roof is held up by steel portals, while large Douglas fir fins define a sheltered area at one end and a private exercise room at the other.
Rainwater from the roof is collected for irrigation and stored in an internal tank, with excess flowing into an external water butt made from a windblown larch tree. Condensation above the doorway is funneled into a copper gutter and directed into a bay tree planter. Ventilation is managed by large hatches along the rear edge, and a wood-burning stove provides additional heating in winter.
