Santa Monica Greenhouse / Part Office + Cactus Store

Santa Monica Greenhouse / Part Office + Cactus Store - Exterior PhotographySanta Monica Greenhouse / Part Office + Cactus Store - Exterior Photography, FacadeSanta Monica Greenhouse / Part Office + Cactus Store - Exterior PhotographySanta Monica Greenhouse / Part Office + Cactus Store - Exterior PhotographySanta Monica Greenhouse / Part Office + Cactus Store - More Images+ 14

Santa Monica, United States
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Santa Monica Greenhouse / Part Office + Cactus Store - Exterior Photography, Facade
© Anna Beeke

Text description provided by the architects. The Santa Monica Greenhouse is the third greenhouse designed in collaboration with the Cactus Store in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to the Bergamont Station train stop, it is situated within a large industrial complex being converted to a retail and office district.

Santa Monica Greenhouse / Part Office + Cactus Store - Exterior Photography, Facade
© Anna Beeke
Santa Monica Greenhouse / Part Office + Cactus Store - Image 16 of 19
Plan
Santa Monica Greenhouse / Part Office + Cactus Store - Exterior Photography
© Anna Beeke

The project is connected to the client’s office building, located in a former warehouse, and houses their private specimen and large-scale cactus and succulent collection. It is one of several additions to the building, each housing a different artisan, sculptor, or fabricator with whom they frequently collaborate. 

Santa Monica Greenhouse / Part Office + Cactus Store - Exterior Photography
© Anna Beeke
Santa Monica Greenhouse / Part Office + Cactus Store - Image 18 of 19
Section
Santa Monica Greenhouse / Part Office + Cactus Store - Exterior Photography
© Anna Beeke

To maintain existing egress paths, the enclosed volumes of the greenhouse are located between the office entry doors. The result is a series of “terrariums” of varying sizes, housed under a singular roof. These pods have two sets of operable, sliding doors on each internal facade, allowing for an endless articulation of connected or separated spaces. This also provides an expanded number of circulation opportunities as well, traversing strictly perpendicular to the office when closed up, or longitudinally along two paths when open. This play on solid/void, transparent/opaque is further reinforced by the roof, which has translucent panels above the planted areas, and solid steel above the pathways. 

Santa Monica Greenhouse / Part Office + Cactus Store - Exterior Photography, Beam
© Anna Beeke

The exterior-facing facades of the greenhouse are designed with a tinted, double-walled polycarbonate that provides a dynamic range of reflections, colors, and opacity depending on the time of day and angle of view. The elevational dimensions of the project were based around the size of these sheets to reduce labor costs and work within a restrictive budget. An untreated steel mesh is used at the interior faces to allow transparency and airflow through the project, and the main structure is a combination of 3” and 1.5” raw steel tubes to keep all structures and sliders within a single line. Over time, the steel will rust, blending it with the tint of the polycarbonate panels, and creating a more monolithic appearance.

Santa Monica Greenhouse / Part Office + Cactus Store - Exterior Photography
© Anna Beeke

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Project location

Address:Santa Monica, CA, United States

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Santa Monica Greenhouse / Part Office + Cactus Store" 30 Jan 2022. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/947982/santa-monica-greenhouse-part-office-plus-cactus-store> ISSN 0719-8884

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