Location: Côte d’Opale, Northern France
Architect: Coldefy
On the Côte d’Opale, in the north of France, there is proposed to be Tropicalia, a tropical greenhouse with a temperature of 28 °C. In a location where the environment is frequently harsh, it truly is a “bubble of harmony” that re-connects tourists with the plant and animal kingdom. Beyond the unusual interior decor, the greenhouse’s architecture adds to the sense of immersion. The lack of load-bearing pillars and the presence of a perimeter wall covered in vegetation heighten the cocoon-like sensation. The building is largely buried in the ground, blending the architecture into the landscape and lowering the building’s height and impact.
The greenhouse appears to be a little hill from a distance. The dome’s height enables the full development of the greenhouse trees as well as the construction of suspension bridges that will amuse children. The pressurized EFTE air cushions that make up the ceiling structure are fixed in place by an aluminum frame.
