Designed by NU Architectuur Atelier, the Green Ark pavilion is a remarkable example of sustainable architecture in Belgium’s Meise Botanic Garden. Located in the heart of the 92-hectare conservatory, this sophisticated structure is part of an ambitious project aimed at restoring and extending 7600 square meters of greenhouses within the historic Bouchout Castle grounds in Flemish Brabant. Built primarily from Kebony Clear wood, a modified softwood with the durability of hardwood, the pavilion’s lattice structure is visually striking and environmentally conscious. The Meise Botanic Garden, one of the largest conservatories globally, plays a crucial role in preserving endangered plant species. The Green Ark pavilion enhances the garden’s mission by offering visitors an immersive educational experience, showcasing the importance of plant conservation.

The Green Ark’s design features a dramatic, curved roof composed of Kebony wood shingles, which resemble cascading scales. This distinctive aesthetic not only adds to the pavilion’s allure but also serves practical purposes, such as rainwater recycling. The interior boasts a wooden structure on a concrete frame, paired with a glazed ground floor that provides intriguing glimpses into the surrounding greenhouses. Kebony’s innovative wood modification process, which combines fast-growing softwood with furan polymers, results in a product that offers the solidity and stability of hardwood while maintaining sustainable sourcing and carbon capture benefits. The Green Ark exemplifies how modern architecture can harmoniously blend with nature, promoting conservation and education in a setting that is both functional and enchanting.

This little cabin in Prague, known as the Garden Pavilion and designed by BYRÓ architekti, boasts a unique facade that can be lifted to seamlessly integrate the indoor space with the outdoors. Located on a garden plot, the retreat cleverly utilizes a space-saving layout. At first glance, it appears to be a modest shed, but its front-facing facade can be raised to open the cabin entirely to the garden. The pavilion was built on the foundation of an old wooden cottage, and it sits among greenhouses and other small structures used by gardeners. The design aims to blend with its environment, allowing residents to fully experience and enjoy the surrounding greenery.

BYRÓ architekti explained their inspiration and design approach: “We thought about how to connect the building as closely as possible to the surrounding garden, and we ultimately came up with the idea of a folding panel that allows one side of the house to completely open.” This innovative feature creates a seamless transition from the interior to the outdoors, resembling a garden loggia. The polycarbonate wall, when open, serves as an outdoor roof, providing shelter during rain. The mechanism for opening the facade includes steel cables, pulleys, and counterweights, making it user-friendly. The pavilion, with a footprint of just 3 x 5 meters, features a charred wood finish using the Shou Sugi Ban technique for preservation and pest deterrence. The interior spans 20 square meters over two floors: a multifunctional ground floor with shelving, dining space, and seating, and an upper floor accessed by a wooden ladder, containing a bedroom with a skylight. Though it lacks a bathroom, the Garden Pavilion is ideal for day use or occasional overnight stays, offering a unique and immersive garden experience.