What are you first thoughts when you see the picture above? These people are standing in the middle of a Greenhouse? Well. Close. The picture is of sustainable architect and author Stuart Rose, Ph.D., green designer and developer and his wife, Trina Duncan, in their own home. He is the designer of Garden Atriums.
Rose’s own house as well as a small cluster of homes in Poquoson, Virginia have a Garden Atrium built in their homes. The atrium contains tropical trees and plants, which gather sun from huge central skylights. Not only can the owners pick their own fruit but because the oxygen levels are so high, allergy sufferers typically notice their symptoms disappear. 
Watch this PBS video to see Rose’s house. It is amazing and I would love to have a house with an atrium like his. Every day would be like summer. However, the house is not just about the garden. The rest of the house is designed based upon green building principles with low toxic products throughout the house. Rose designed and built this sustainable, net-zero house which collects rain water for up to 90% of their household water use and solar power in place of traditional utilities.
Ten years later, with a cluster of other houses based upon Rose’s vision, as well as over 10,000 vistors later to the model Garden Atriums home, Rose authored a book on his journey entitled Sustainability: A Personal Journey to a Built Sustainable Community…and an Amazing Picture of What Life Will Soon Be Like (Spring 2010). For more information about the concept of the Garden Atriums see here. If you want to see a tour the Garden Atriums of Poquoson model home, see here.
My next house will definitely be a Rose house. Readers, can you envision living in such an amazing house?
Mike says
April 29, 2010 at 11:12 amWhat a beautiful room! It looks like a peaceful retreat and how wonderful would it be to walk through your home to pick a piece of fresh fruit for breakfast?
texas says
May 3, 2010 at 9:27 amThat to me is total luxury!
Many people have an idea of their fantasy home – but this to me is the one!
I love the idea of being able to relax within my own home amongst such stunning tropical plants and trees.
Maralyn Jones says
August 31, 2010 at 1:39 amIt looks beautiful..I too love to have greenery in my room…..
Conservatories says
April 4, 2011 at 3:09 amIt’s not only a beautiful home but a great business model as well. I’m not much of a gardener so I’m wondering if garden atrium will require a lot of maintenance. I love to have my own water harvesting system and solar power at some point, so this sounds more and more like my dream home!
Anna@Green Talk says
April 5, 2011 at 9:30 amConservatories, I love the idea of having more oxygen in the house. Anna
Simon Mayport says
May 16, 2011 at 3:19 amNow this is living a lifestyle. A lounge garden is a perfect solution to a healthy home. Green house is not just a word it is modern happening.