SERA Eden (Eden Greenhouse)

Authors’ Comment

SERA Eden is in the courtyard of a mansion belonging in the past to the Brătianu family, in the center of Bucharest. It neighbors the embassy of Vietnam on one side, the Hungarian one on the other side and a greenhouse behind the back yard fence. Such vicinity inspired us to convert an existing structure into a glass house.

Technically, Vietnam's Embassy land belongs to Vietnam, so it is only natural for bamboo to grow on its border. The pipe scaffolding reinforces the typical greenhouse structure. Corrugated metal sheet is used for the few opaque walls as it conveys a sense of light and provisory construction. The floor is in brick. The only contrasting material is the thick white marble for the bar counter, a discreet hint to the world of cocktails and spirits. Landscaping is the crucial part of the project. Instead of following the traditional lines that the building would have dictate, we contradicted it with sinuous organic shapes to contrast both the existing historical building and the geometric glass house. These shapes will blend in with the wild and exotic vegetation (bamboo, ginko biloba) to grow in the next years and provide a labyrinthine path for visitors to explore.