Greenhouses from Old Windows and Doors

Author: Keiren // Last updated on December 21, 2020 63 Comments

Calling all used awning windows, bay windows, storm doors, and clerestories back to service.

1) Recycled Window Greenhouse, Minnesota

Greenhouse made from recycled windows by Jan and Ed Vitse of New Look Floral (a garden and floral business) in Rochester, MN. This little gem, made from recycled windows was built in 2003. The structure is 12 feet long by 6 1/2 wide, and 10 1/2 feet tall.

2) Tinker House, Indiana

Donna Reyne of Indiana built Tinker House from reclaimed doors, windows and millwork from a home renovation. The doors are old pocketdoors on slides, slid open in this photo.

3) Recycled Window And Tile Greenhouse, Texas

Old window greenhouse by Karla and Steve Ritchey of McKinney, Texas. Used Mexican roofing tiles from a mansion in Fort Worth frame the hydrangea and variegated liriope-filled flower bed.

4) Recycled Windows And Doors Greenhouse, Texas

Re-purposed windows and doors. Linda J. of McKinney, Texas built this greenhouse using old windows and french doors. It has a chandelier inside and icicle lights that set it off at night. Originally found at “https://www.hometalk.com/455305/re-purposed-windows-and-doors”

5) Greenhouse With Materials From The Neighbors

Old window greenhouse, using recycled windows from one neighbor who was replacing all the windows on her house, and a couple of old doors from another neighbor who was getting new ones installed.

Must-Haves For Greenhouse Owners

Potting Soil

Seedling Heat Mats

6) Montana Greenhouse

Greenhouse from recycled materials by Montana Wildlife Gardener. To see additional information on building a greenhouse, visit their site for pictures and information on each step of the process.

7) Greenhouse From The Piny Woods Of Texas

Built with reused materials, the owner also incorporated trellises for vining plants.

8) Old Window Greenhouse

Old window greenhouse by Lucy and Stephen Marr. Photos by Todd Selby at theselby.com.

9) Old Window Greenhouse, Asheville, NC

10) Greenhouse From Donated Windows

Neighbors donated used windows for this greenhouse. It was built to fit the windows, without plans. It has 3 sliding windows for ventilation.

11) Salvaged Wood Greenhouse, San Francisco

Greenhouse by Jesse Schlesinger at The General Store, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

12) Old Window Greenhouse, Ohio

13) 45-Window Greenhouse, North Carolina

Greenhouse built from 45 old windows from all different places. Some bought most donated. Wanted to keep the shabby chic, vintage look so added Mason jars lights with Edison bulbs inside. The owner/builders Eric and Elizabeth love garden veggies and wanted to be able to do it year-round, and threw in flowers for pops of color. No plan, just started building and this is what it became. Lincolnton, NC.

During construction of the above greenhouse in NC. Greenhouse turned out to be 10′ x 15′. Interior shelves were built from pallets. Gutters collect rainwater runoff. By Eric and Elizabeth.

14) Small Re-Used Window Greenhouse

A post shared by Ali (@mustardseedbeginnings) on Jan 5, 2017 at 1:15pm PST

This Instagram post is a great reminder of how a greenhouse doesn’t have to be large. A small greenhouse can be easily built with a few windows for herbs year-round.

15) Asian-Influenced Greenhouse

16) Recycled Window Home In Copenhagen

Glass house Made from recycled windows in Copenhagen’s 40-year-old Freetown Christiania Commune. Considered “architecture without architects” there is a strong political will to tear the houses down—they are illegal, follow no building code, have no permit. Image by Seier + Seier via Flickr.

17) Salvaged Window And Door Greenhouse, Ontario

A gardener in Ontario built this 10×16 greenhouse. She used salvaged windows for the glass, and salvaged doors. Half of the floor is an old deck, the other half is discounted paving stone.

18) Garden Shed

Reclaimed window garden shed. Photo via downsizemyspace.com

19) Small Greenhouse From Old Windows

Old window cold frame. Photo via downsizemyspace.com

20) Cold Frame From Old Windows, South Carolina

Adina and Walter of Campobello, South Carolina designed and built this cold frame using an old window.

21) Small Greenhouse

Small greenhouse from 3 storm windows exactly the same size. Love this! Instead of using her find of 3 old storm windows for a low cold frame, Anne decided to go upward.

22) Greenhouse From Salvaged Doors

Old door greenhouse by Tara Dillard. Love this. Just attach old doors to a side of your home.

23) Lloyd Kahn Greenhouse, With Adobe Walls

Greenhouse built by Lloyd Kahn with used windows. Says Lloyd: “The rear wall consists of stabilized adobe bricks made with a CinvaRam, a compression tool I learned about in the ’60s from the Whole Earth Catalog. There’s a solar-powered fan for cooling and a small solar-powered trickling fountain inside. Note: using old windows like this requires a lot of time puttying and/or painting.” Lloyd’s latest book is Tiny Homes: Simple Shelter. For more info, see: www.shelterpub.com

24) Greenhouse Made From Leftover Building Materials

Recycled window greenhouse by Holly Willgress and Fraser Koroluk of Bella Coola, B.C.. In the process of renovations with a new roof and third floor added onto their lodge, they had a lot of old and leftover building materials. They maintain a “no new stuff” theme to their backyard. Originally found at bcmountainlodge.com

25) Greenhouse In Rockwood, Tennessee

This greenhouse was constructed by Amy Moore with reused windows for walls, and a foundation made of old railroad timber. An assortment of wood planks were used for the frame.

26) Asymmetrical Salvaged Wood And Window Greenhouse

27) Tall Old Window Greenhouse, Washington State

Old window greenhouse by Angela Davis of Washington State. Read more aboout it on her blog Gardening in My Rubber Boots.

28) Old Windows Frame A Clear-Awning Roof

A clear-awning roof allows lots of light to enter this greenhouse made from lots of different old windows.

29) Greenhouse From Salvaged School Windows

Sara of Davison, Illinois made this garden shed from windows salvaged from an old school.

25 Glass Houses, Domes, and Other Incredible Glass Constructions Around the World

Feast your eyes on some of the most beautiful glass buildings, domes, and houses ever designed.

There are many reasons why architects might choose to work with glass over other materials. One of the biggest draws of working with glass is the utilization of natural light, creating bright, airy spaces with a modern appeal.

Below are just some beautiful examples of houses, domes, buildings, and more that used glass to stunning effect.

1. Stahl House: Hollywood’s Famous Glass-Walled House

Best known for appearing in a number of Hollywood films, the Stahl House was built in 1959 and designed by architect Pierre Koenig. Often referred to as Case Study House #22, the building became a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1999.

Today, the house is considered as a masterpiece of modernist architecture, thanks to the panoramic views afforded by its floor-to-ceiling windows.

2. The Louvre Pyramid: A Parisian Landmark

Designed by architect I.M. Pei under commission from French President, François Mitterrand, the iconic pyramid that marks the entrance of the Louvre was unveiled in 1989.

The controversial structure was introduced to better accommodate the growing numbers of visitors at the museum, though many spectators were less than pleased by the juxtaposition of the modern pyramid against the original building, to begin with. Urban legends circulated that the pyramid contained 666 panes of glass when in reality it’s constructed of a far less sinister number — 689.

3. Al Dar Headquarters, Abu Dhabi: The First Circular Building in the Middle East

Built in 2010, the Al Dar Headquarters in Abu Dhabi was the first building of its kind in the Middle East. It was designed by MZ Architects and features a convex glass exterior.

It is made of recyclable materials and is among the first sustainable buildings in the United Arab Emirates.

4. The Sage Gateshead, UK: Three Auditoria Behind Glass

Designed in 1997 by Foster and Partners, the Sage Gateshead in Newcastle, England houses three separate auditoria for concerts and other live performances. It was opened to the public in 2004.

Its waved steel and glass shell is comprised of 280 glass panels and covers six separate structures.

5. The Botanical Garden of Curitiba, Brazil: Inspired by 19th Century British Design

Built in 1991, the Botanical Garden of Curitiba modeled itself after classical French gardens. Its eye-catching greenhouse was inspired by London’s Crystal Palace, a plate-glass structure from the 19th Century.

Though the greenhouse measures a mere 4,800 square feet (450 square meters) its Art Nouveau design has been attracting tourists for over twenty years.

6. The IAC Building, New York: Frank Gehry’s First NYC Building

Located in Manhattan’s buzzing Chelsea neighborhood, the IAC Building was designed by architect Frank Gehry — his first to be built in New York City. Gehry is world-renowned for his use of glass in his designs.

Completed in 2007, the design intended to allow workers to feel as though there were in an open atmosphere that would encourage collaboration.

7. The Seattle Central Library, USA: A Book-Worm Tourist Attraction

Designed by Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Prince-Ramus, the imposing Seattle Central Library officially opened in 2004. The library can hold as many as 1.4 million books, and in the library’s first year alone 2.3 million people came to visit the modern building — 30% of whom had traveled from outside of Seattle.

The library has gone on to win many awards and accolades for its bold glass and steel design.

8. The Shard, London: Britain’s Tallest Building

Formerly known as the London Bridge Tower, The Shard has become a London landmark since its unveiling in 2012. The 1,016 foot (309.7 meters) skyscraper was designed by Italian architect, Renzo Piano, and is currently the tallest building in both the UK and the EU.

Piano worked angled panes of glass into his design to catch the rays of the sun. The building features apartments, offices, restaurants, and a hotel.

9. Basque Health Department HQ, Spain: Different Views from Each Pane

Located in the Basque Country’s Bilbao, the Basque Health Department Headquarters was designed by architect Juan Coll-Barreu. Built in 2004, its large, slanted glass panes offer a variety of views of the city.

10. Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision: One of the Biggest Audiovisual Archives in Europe

Built in 2006, the Netherlands Insitute for Sound and Vision is home to the bulk of the country’s audiovisual outputs, stretching back as far as the late 19th Century. The building itself was designed by architects Willem Jan Neutelings and Michiel Riedijk.

The building is most notable for its colorful glass cladding. Each pane features famous images from Dutch television.

11. Philip Johnson Glass House, USA: Inspired by Farnsworth House

Inspired by the Farnsworth House, Philip Johnson’s Glass House in Connecticut, USA was built in 1949. It was Johnson’s weekend home for 58 years.

The open-plan glass-walled house featured a kitchen, dining, and sleeping area.

12. 30 St. Mary Axe: London’s Neo-Futurist Landmark

Affectionately referred to as «the Gherkin» by Londoners, 30 St. Mary Axe was built in 2003. Designed by Foster and Partners, the glass and steel building is considered a fine example of Neo-Futurist architecture.

The 41-storey skyscraper consumes half the energy other buildings of its size would, thanks to the double-glazed glass and strategic shafts which allow light and air to circulate.

13. Dancing House, Czech Republic: An Architectural Homage to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

Built in 1996, the Dancing House (also known as Fred and Ginger) was designed in a collaboration between Vlado Milunić and Frank Gehry. Because of the way the two parts of the building appear to lean into one another like dancers, Gehry coined the nickname Fred and Ginger for the structure.

The building features a restaurant and a gallery, as well as stunning 360-degree views of Prague.

14. Philharmonic Hall, Szczecin, Poland: Classical Design With a Modern Twist

Inspired by church steeples and neo-classical architecture, the Philharmonic Hall of Szczecin, Poland puts a modern twist on a classic design with its frosted glass exterior. Designed by Fabrizio Barozzi and Agnieszka Samsel, it was the 2015 winner of the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture.

15. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, USA: Protecting Art from Ultraviolet Rays

Designed by Steven Holl in 1999, the Bloch Building of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri was a controversial addition to the 1930s museum.

21 Buildings That Helped Shape Modern Architecture, From 1945 to Today

The Bloch Building features a series of glass «lenses», which allow light to pass down into the underground exhibition spaces below. The advanced glass technology of the lenses protects the artworks from any harmful UV rays.

16. Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, China: The World’s Longest Glass-Bottom Bridge

Spanning a valley in China’s Hunan province, the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge opened in 2016. To date, it is the longest and highest glass-bottom bridge in the world; measuring 1,410 feet long(430 meters), and raised 853 feet (260 meters) above ground.

The bridge was designed by Haim Dotan, and consists of 120 glass panels.

17. Christ Cathedral, California: A Glass Place of Worship

Originally known as the Crystal Cathedral, Christ Cathedral in Orange County, California, first opened in 1981. Designed by Philip Johnson, the cathedral was considered as the largest glass building in the world upon opening.

It can hold a congregation of up to 3,000 people, and its glass panes are not bolted but glued to the building’s frame.

18. Farnsworth House, USA: A Protected Landmark in Illinois

Built for Dr. Edith Farnsworth between 1945 and 1951, the Farnsworth House was to be a weekend retreat where the doctor could enjoy nature. It was designed by Miles van der Rohe, and has had a lasting impact on modern architecture.

The house was named a National Historic Landmark in 2006 and features bold floor-to-ceiling windows.

19. Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris: Inspired by the Grand Palais

The Fondation Louis Vuitton opened in 2014 and was designed by Frank Gehry. Gehry was inspired by the glass Grand Palais and other French glass structures from the late 19th Century.

The building houses eleven separate galleries and a 350-seat auditorium.

20. The City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia, Spain: One of the Twelve Treasures of Spain

Inaugurated in 1998, the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain was part of the Twelve Treasures of Spain initiative to build a series of monuments across the country. The city comprises of several buildings, all of which house different sites of interest.

They include a science museum, a plaza for concerts and sporting events, an aquarium, and an opera theatre.

21. Gardens by the Bay, Singapore: Two Domes With Different Climates

Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay features two stunning glass domes — the Flower Dome, and the Cloud Forest. Though they may look alike from the outside, they house different climates.

The Flower Dome replicates mild, dry climates for the plants housed within it. Meanwhile, the Cloud Forest replicates a cool, moist climate.

22. Chihuly Garden and Glass, USA: An Homage to the Artistry of Glass

Located in the Seattle Center, the Chihuly Garden and Glass is an exhibition space showcasing the glassworks of artist Dale Chihuly. It comprises of a garden, glasshouse, and exhibition area.

23. National Centre for Performing Arts, Beijing: Designed to Look Like Water

Designed by Paul Andreu, this titanium and glass building is home to China’s National Centre for Performing Arts. The glass dome is located beside a man-made lake and was designed to look like a water droplet.

It consists of a theater hall, opera hall, and concert hall.

24. The Climatron, USA: One of America’s Most Significant Architectural Achievements

Located in the Missouri Botanical Gardens, the Climatron is a geodesic greenhouse designed by T.C. Howard. It was opened in 1961 and was named one of the 100 most significant achievements in American architectural history in 1976.

It’s built from 2,425 panes of heat-strengthened glass, held aloft by a series of aluminum rods.

25. The Reichstag Dome, Berlin: One of Germany’s Most Popular Attractions

Built to symbolize the reunification of Germany after the fall of the Berlin wall, the Reichstag Dome has become a popular landmark in Germany’s capital. It was designed by Norman Foster and offers incredible 360-degree views of the city.