ARTICLE READING 

             What is the role of nature in architecture today? At first, let understand what nature in architecture is. Nature is an important part of the context in traditional architecture, in general. The local conditions which responds to the architecture for instead climate, geology and seismic conditions. The local building materials and their properties are key in the technical design.

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Moreover, architecture has become independent from its natural context since early twentieth century. With becoming an independent art, architecture found references in its own realm. The context of the design does no longer include the natural context. The context is actually based on the references in the architecture itself.

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            In the modernism era, I think that, today architecture in nature plays as a good example to be imitated for all the building before it is presence designed the nature around the site. Nowadays all the buildings before construct, the first thing will always be the architect wants to instil an idea into the piece of land is the nature. Besides that, natural also play a role of a necessary guidelines for architects to continuously present designing process.

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            Based on my personal point of view, I think that nature is a design metaphor and a set of physical factors to overcome. Besides that, I think nature is also mainly a combination of design metaphor and also set of physical factors for human being to emulate too. “The column must be tapered from bottom to top in imitation of nature where this diminution is found in all plants.” Quoted by Mac-antoine Laugier.

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A contemporary case study- Uppgrenna Nature House (2015)

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            The case study which I feel that can use in today topic Nature is Uppgrenna Nature House (2015) located in Sweden. The nature house A maximum eco-friendly meeting place with cafe, conference rooms ang therapy-treatments. A spa and conference building in Uppgrenna, Sweden. An existing red barn was demolished and replaced by a modern building with ground floor partly submerged in the slope. The upper entrance level consists of an insulated building partly surrounded by an unheated greenhouse that extend over the entire roof. The greenhouse contain room for plant beds and shelter terraces with expansive views of Lake Vättern and a climate similar to Northern Italy.

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            The exterior is portrayed with inspiration from traditional Swedish barn houses, with its simple ports and shutters. All windows and doors fitted with shutters in a red wooden panel wall. It creates dynamism to the façade and reduces heat radiation when the house is not used.

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            The greenhouse allows for a closed local loop of recycling sewage waste. Large plant beds cleanse and take up nutrients in the wastewater and converts it to fruit and vegetables. The house does not require connection to the municipal sewer. Living in a greenhouse encourages a sustainable and non-toxic lifestyle. It becomes very clear why you should not emit pollutants in the environment, it turns back  in to your own recycling system.

The vision is to make a self-sustainable house that produce food, instead of waste. Houses that generate energy, instead of only consuming it and, ultimately, living spaces that induce reflection and learning thus influencing the behaviour of inhabitants towards sustainability.

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            The Nature House concept (or Naturhus in Swedish) was developed by Swedish architect Bengt Warne in the 1970s. The houses consists of a core - a living area that is surrounded by a shell of glass - a greenhouse. The greenhouse sets the insulated inner core in a warmer climate and provides sheltered "outdoor space" from the cold northern winter. It gives you the possibility to grow plants from warmer climate zones and preheats air for ventilation. And the Finishing materials are natural in tone and nature.

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            The vision is to make a self sustainable house that produce food, instead of waste. Houses that generate energy, instead of only consuming it and, ultimately, living spaces that induce reflection and learning thus influencing the behaviour of inhabitants towards sustainability.

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            In a nutshell, I think nature, green is seen as an essential part of architectural context. Therefore again nature is key in architecture, be it that natural is considered an important issue in urban planning. Clearly that is a different thing than nature being an important part of the architectural context. Lastly, I think we need to take a balance between these both nature and constructed environment to achieve a better living quality. “It is the same in architecture as in all other arts: its principles are founded on simple nature, and nature's process clearly indicates its rules.” Quoted by Marc-Antoine Laugier.