News

Renewed Climate Greenhouse Hortus open for public

Visibly sustainable, while preserving and enhancing its architectural value. The renovated Climate Greenhouse in the Hortus is now open to the public!
ZJA Architects & Engineers, the original designers of this iconic structure in the heart of Amsterdam in 1993, also led the new design. The interior design and layout were created by BOOM Landscape and Designwolf, with ABT once again responsible for the structural engineering.

Kay Oosterman, architect-partner at ZJA says: "The new Climate Greenhouse at the Hortus has become visibly more sustainable, while retaining its familiar silhouette. ZJA Architects & Engineers preserved the core principles of the original design—lightweight and transparent for optimal daylight exposure for the plants. We emphasized the characteristic main support structure, which defines the image of the Hortus. The distinctive rhythm and refinement of the existing façade, with its white lines, return in the new design. The single-glazed façade has been replaced with insulating double glazing, and the roof now features lightweight, insulating triple-layer ETFE air cushions. This is the ultimate form of lightweight construction.

A renewed and sustainable icon

In the early 1990s, the newly established firm Zwarts & Jansma Architects designed the “Three-Climate Greenhouse” for the Amsterdam Hortus Botanicus. A contemporary ‘high-tech’ steel and glass structure, it harmonizes with its historic surroundings through its staggered height and fine gridwork.

It quickly became a beloved attraction and a defining element of the Amsterdam cityscape. A striking external skeleton of steel elements supports the 1,500-square-meter greenhouse. Now, just as visible as the structure itself, is its sustainability upgrade.

The story of biodiversity

After three decades of service, the greenhouse was due for a major renovation. The Hortus seized this opportunity to completely renew the structure with sustainability in mind. Since 2016, the greenhouse has shared heat and cold with the nearby H’ART Museum, and after the renovation, it has become the first gas-free public greenhouse in the Netherlands. It's also the only place where the importance of plant biodiversity and its relationship to climate is actively explained.

Carlien Blok, Director of the Hortus says: “If our mission is to inspire visitors to act differently, with care for nature, then we must show that we ourselves are committed to doing the same.”

Optimal design

The greenhouse now features an insulating roof with lightweight triple-layer ETFE air cushions, double glazing, a system for reusing (rain)water, and integrated, energy-efficient climate systems. The layout was also completely revamped. In addition to a new Cape region and a refreshed tropical section, BOOM Landscape and Designwolf created extra exhibition space to allow the Hortus to tell the story of biodiversity and climate change on a global scale.

 

 

The characteristic walkway has been preserved and now crosses a new waterfall, which centralizes and conceals technical systems. There is also a new viewing platform and an introduction and reflection area. Thanks to the updated climate systems and the rearrangement of the plant collections, the greenery can now make optimal use of the building and its orientation.

On 2 June 2025—in the year Amsterdam celebrates its 750th anniversary—the renovated Climate Greenhouse reopened to the public. The official opening will take place on 10 September.

Project Details – Climate Greenhouse

Client: Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam
Architect: ZJA Architects & Engineers
Landscape Design: BOOM Landscape
Interior Design: Designwolf
Structural Engineer: ABT
Main Contractor: AKOR
Project Management: C&R Hospitality Services
Installation Consultancy & Project Management: Infinitus Solutions
Steel Construction: Vic Obdam Staalbouw
Roof Supplier: Buitink Technology
Façade Supplier: Kingspan Light + Air
Installer: Lek/Habo
Greenhouse Interior: Copijn
Design Start: 2019
Construction Start: 2024
Completion: 2025

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