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The planned greenhouse

Animated illustration: dome shapes greenhouses with people in front; vegetation and pavement around
All illustrations by Stein Halvorsen arkitekter AS

Around the world in the middle of Oslo

The new greenhouse planned at the Natural History Museum will be a spectacular and unparalleled destination to Oslo and Norway. It will get a key role in disseminating science based knowledge on the climate and biodiversity crisis for the general public. 

In our new greenhouse – spanning a total of 5000 m2 – visitors may experience realistic environments from five of the world's climate zones, from desert to tropical rainforest. The exhibit's overarching topic is the fundamental role plants have for life on Earth, and aim at inspiring for a sustainable management of the world's natural resources. The mutual influence of plants and climate and how it affects our life conditions will get special attention in the exhibitions. 

Get to know the climate zones of the greenhouse

Tropical rainforest

Image may contain: Plant, Plant community, Green, Terrestrial plant, Arecales.

 

In order to showcase the enormous diversity of tropical rainforests, this department will be the largest and tallest of the five climate zones presented. We will display the layered growth zones of rainforests, from the undergrowth to the tips of the canopy and what distinguish the different layers. The canopies – and the plants growing in them – will shade the bottom resulting in a dark and realistic undergrowth. While strolling among tree roots and the undergrowth, look up and you will observe a sea of green foliage. Not many greenhouses have accomplished this, but we are positive that we will succeed. 

Tropical cloud forest

Image may contain: Plant, Plant community, Flower, Leaf, Green.

 

The tropical cloud forests are dripping wet, even more so than the rainforests, yet cooler. These forests cover mountain slopes of South and Central America, Southeast Asia and some regions of Africa. They are often important water sources for their surrounding lowlands. Ferns, trees coated with mosses and orchids, together with flowing water, create a unique environment for you to explore. Tropical cloud forests threatened in many places of their distribution. Climate change pushes cloud formation higher up, so that the forests become fragmented or disappear altogether, something we wish to bring extra attention to. 

Mediterranean

Image may contain: Plant, Flower, Property, Plant community, Tree.

 

The Mediterranean climate is well-known and well liked, and is present on several continents, despite its name. Many of our cultivated plants have their origin in this climate, including olives, figs and a range of familiar spices and plants used as perfumes. There will be a café in this part of the exhibition, in which our gest will be able to enjoy the taste of many of the very plants that surrounds them.

Desert

Image may contain: Plant, Plant community, Terrestrial plant, Vegetation, Biome.

 

Under the same dome as the Mediterranean climate there will also be a desert department. All Mediterranean climates border desert regions so they naturally belong close together in the display. Desert pant often have spectacular adaptations to their harsh conditions, ranging from tiny camouflaged living "rocks" to giant "cowboy cacti" (saguaro). 

Artcic

Image may contain: Plant, Cloud, Sky, Mountain, Nature.

The arctic display will not be a regular greenhouse but more like a 80 square meter growth chamber. Light conditions, temperature and humidity will be controlled independently from the seasons outside. This allows us to speed up the seasons so that we can display two summers and two winters annually. We wish to show our visitors how the plants interact with their extreme polar environment and each other. Some species turn their satellite dish shaped flowers with the movement of the sun, which in the arctic has a very low angle. In order to display this we will build a unique and customizable light design.

Contact

Questions regarding the new greenhouse? 

Please contact Finn Ervik, project coordinator. 

Phone: +47-22851826
Email: finn.ervik@nhm.uio.no

Contact

Questions regarding the new greenhouse? 

Please contact Finn Ervik, project coordinator. 

Phone: +47-22851826
Email: finn.ervik@nhm.uio.no