Publication
The greenhouse, in its modern conception, is a relatively recent artefact in the history of Western architecture. Its emergence and widespread adoption are inextricably linked to colonial context. Initially designed as enclosures for the conservation of exotic plant species, greenhouses evolved into social environments and, by the early 19th century, became integral extensions of the ideal bourgeois villa. Although numerous studies have explored the history of greenhouses through a botanical or technological lens, they often reduce these structures to their functional roles, engineering achievements, or monumental presence. Their broader influence on residential architecture and the domestic sphere has largely been overlooked. Frequently dismissed as architectural appendages, greenhouses exert a far-reaching impact that goes beyond their status as secondary spaces. This research challenges such reductionist interpretations, arguing that greenhouses occupy a unique position in architectural discourse, resisting conventional typological categories such as form, function, or image. Accordingly, the thesis calls for a critical reassessment of the role of the greenhouse in architectural history and theory. Addressing a gap in scholarship, this study examines the relationship between greenhouses and domestic spaces. It revisits early moments of integration and focuses on multiple case studies of the twentieth century. By framing the greenhouse as an architectural device with distinct characteristics and agency, the research traces its evolution from botanical utility to domestic significance. Through archival research, oral histories, and visual analysis of graphic and photographic materials, the study identifies three pivotal moments in the history of the greenhouse and closely analyses two emblematic practices: the German firm Log ID and the French firm Lacaton & Vassal. Both have embraced the greenhouse as a conceptual and pragmatic engine, integrating it into their design ethos and theoretical frameworks. Greenhouses and houses form an ensemble whose meaningful interpretation is anchored in their internal climatic conditions. Their evolution is shaped more by continuity than rupture, despite shifts in historical and social context. It further emphasizes the central role of greenhouses and their climatic principles in informing architectural approaches such as solar and ecological design. Topics inseparable from the greenhouse interior-exterior relationships, functional indeterminacy, thermal gradients, passive energy strategies, and seasonal living are explored for their broader architectural implications. This research tackles the notion of climatic types, where typological reasoning is based in the environmental performance and atmospheric qualities of space. By considering the greenhouse as a collection of spaces with distinct climatic identities, it challenges traditional architectural typologies and proposes a fundamental revision. Ultimately,