Winter garden in a private house and apartment: recommendations for the creation and maintenance

A winter garden in a private house, apartment, dacha or balcony is a particle of summer all year round. The creation of a cozy place of beauty and relaxation implies the implementation of a serious engineering solution and requires scrupulousness at all stages from the creation of the project to the implementation. Considering all the nuances, a home greenhouse will become a highlight of home ownership, and caring for it will become a favorite hobby. This article will help you to correctly design, create and equip a garden indoors.

A winter garden in a private house is a special corner where various indoor plants are placed, creating a special atmosphere

What is a winter garden: main characteristics and features

A winter garden is a room with a specific purpose. Serves to accommodate exotic, indoor and heat-loving plants, requires special heating, water supply and lighting systems with the most rational use of natural solar heat and light. Usually it is a glass structure in a metal, aluminum, wooden or metal-plastic frame. It can be an extension of the living room in the form of a terrace.

Plants in the winter garden are able to cleanse the air space of harmful substances, saturate it with oxygen and a unique floral aroma

The winter garden is not a separate building, but an integral part of the house. It is protected from atmospheric influences (rain and wind) by a glass roof and walls.

The beauty and aroma of flowers have a positive effect on the human nervous system. The green zone serves a number of positive functions, in particular:

• enriches the room with oxygen;

The winter garden can be organized as an extension to the house in a separate well-lit room

• prevents dust from entering the living space;
• plant care becomes a useful and original hobby;
• the green zone is a territory of comfort, relaxation at any time of the year and in any weather.

Useful advice! For the construction of a winter garden, it is not necessary to have a spacious house or yard. You can even create a cozy summer corner on the balcony or loggia of the apartment.

Winter cajad is a closed accommodation with heating and natural lighting, which can be both a separate period, as well as the continuation of the living

Winter garden in a private house: history of occurrence

The first winter garden appeared in the 4th millennium BC. Pictures depicting stone vases in the palaces of Ancient Egypt clearly testify to this. The followers of the Egyptians are the ancient Romans, who began to place mini-gardens on the windowsills. Wealthy owners of estates could afford a peristyle - a garden in the middle of a building, surrounded by columns.

Winter gardens reached Europe already in the 11th century. King Wilhelm of Holland set up a flower greenhouse in his palace. Soon there were "orange houses" - these are buildings where citrus blossoms all year round.

At all times, winter gardens were widely used in the construction of country houses, penthouses, cultural, recreational and business centers

The greenhouse at Versailles during the time of Louis XIV is considered the most beautiful in history and has survived to this day. No less famous are the greenhouses of the Potsdam Palace Sanssouci. In the 18th century, citrus fruits replaced tropical plants. Winter gardens were considered a luxury until the 19th century, when Nathaniel Ward tried growing plants under a glass dome.

In 1854, the Englishman Joseph Paxton built the Crystal Palace, the prototype of a modern winter garden.

If initially winter gardens were used exclusively for breeding heat-loving exotic plants, now it can be a place for a living room, study, gallery or just relaxation.

Today almost everyone can attach a winter garden to the house. It can also be placed on a balcony or terrace.

Winter garden and greenhouse in the house: similarities and differences

There are certain differences between a greenhouse, a greenhouse and a winter garden, despite the fact that these concepts are related. All premises have the same purpose in terms of plant cultivation in the intermediate zone between housing and open area. At the same time, the greenhouse and the greenhouse are independent buildings, and the winter garden is an integral part, a harmonious continuation of the living space.

The greenhouse (a more simplified version - greenhouses) is focused mainly on growing plants in special conditions

Greenhouses, for the most part, have a temporary purpose for growing different types of crops in special conditions at a certain stage. From the photo of the greenhouse, it can be seen that this is a place for growing exotic varieties of plants, for example, orchids or citrus fruits. For this purpose, special climatic conditions with high humidity and temperature are created, which can be difficult for the physical condition of the human body. A long stay in them is uncomfortable and undesirable.

The winter garden can be called an intermediate zone between the living quarters and the natural environment.

The main purpose of the winter garden at home is to give pleasure from contemplating the lush greenery of small trees, the beauty of bright flowers and their fragrance. The microclimate of the garden under glass is selected rationally, having a positive effect on both cultivated plants and the well-being of people. Such harmony can be created only on condition of strict observance of all construction and improvement rules.

Note! The winter garden should not be confused with a greenhouse, which is located outside the home and serves for growing seedlings of garden crops and flowers. A flower greenhouse differs from a garden in a tropical microclimate with high humidity and air temperature.

Like a greenhouse, a winter garden is designed to protect plants and flowers from freezing in autumn and winter.

Winter garden in a private house: photo, varieties and features

A winter garden is a rather complex engineering and technical structure. The main feature of the future construction is keeping plants in comfort, protection from frost and other negative environmental influences. Therefore, the following conditions must be observed during design:

• compliance with a constant temperature regime;

A winter garden is a serious engineering solution that requires compliance with the nuances of pre-project preparation, design and construction.

• constant air circulation;
• adequate lighting;
• optimal air humidity;
• sealed frame.

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The construction of the winter garden, regardless of where it is located, must be transparent, sufficiently illuminated, aesthetically designed, resistant to the influence of external factors.

The winter garden conventionally has several internal zones:

• communicative - performs a function that connects with the house. These are paths that lead to the house on one side and to the street on the other;

The winter garden always gives the house its own unique look and style, brings zest

• recreational - part of the interior where furniture items are located for rest, meetings, meals;
• decorative - the main area where the plants are actually located;
• office - a place where inventory, fertilizers, access to communications are located.

There are many projects of houses with a winter garden, which imply their construction along with the main room, but glass extensions for growing plants are more popular.

Layout of the winter garden attached to the house

Before attaching a winter garden to a house, it is necessary to determine not only the size and landscaping, but also its location, so that all of the above conditions are met.

The most optimal side of the winter garden is the eastern side. The structure in this area will not overheat. Plants will receive the necessary solar energy from the cool morning sun.

Rectangular translucent structure in the form of an extension of a winter garden to a house with a pitched roof

The western side is also quite acceptable and successful, the second one is optimal. But such a placement project will succumb to excess heat, especially in summer, and therefore will require additional watering.

The southern side is often considered the most suitable for a winter garden. This opinion is very misleading. The south of the house is an unsuitable area for a winter garden. Direct sunlight, especially in summer, tends to overheat the plants. To avoid this, you will have to provide additional ventilation and watering. It should be noted that in winter, it is in the southern garden that the warmth remains well and for a long time.

North. The garden on this side is only arranged as an exception when there is no other alternative. The accumulation of heat in this area is the smallest, therefore, an additional heating system should be taken care of. Sunlight will also be minimal. Therefore, shade-loving plants are planted in such a garden.

Useful advice! It is possible to arrange a small winter garden on the loggia, even if it is located on the north side. Phytolamps will help to provide a sufficient amount of sunlight. Their service life is about two years, they are expensive, but they consume little electricity. At the same time, they perfectly help plants in the process of photosynthesis.

Regardless of the location of the garden, the constructive system must be translucent, illuminated, ethereal, beautiful, as well as resistant to atmospheric phenomena

Winter garden attached to the house: photos, views, location

Depending on the function performed and its location, the winter garden has several types.

Buffer is a winter garden attached to the house in the form of a glazed terrace or veranda. Mini-option - vestibule or balcony.

A winter garden in a private house is a specially designated room or part of a room, fully or partially glazed. This could be a living room or a dining room.

An attached winter garden is an additional way to expand the usable area of ​​the house

The greenhouse of the house is a non-residential extension with an artificial microclimate, where exotic plants are cultivated.

Rectangular winter garden-extension to the house. This design is a versatile and most popular option. The building has a transparent pitched roof.

Angular. A green space can be created using an extension to the outer corner of the house.

Two-façade extension. This option implies an extension to the inner corner of the house. Another name for the extension is a quarter polygon with a combined four-beam or gable roof.

The three-façade design is the most efficient in terms of lighting. Three walls of the annex are glass, and the fourth is one of the walls of the main building.

The winter garden can be a structure adjacent to the house or a free-standing structure connected by a corridor or glass passage to the main room. Each option affects the design and arrangement of heating, water supply and ventilation systems. For a complete presentation, you need to study in detail examples of different projects of houses with a winter garden. Photos clearly illustrate this variety.

A variant of the original greenhouse on the roof of the house

Useful advice! A veranda can be an ideal place for a winter garden in a country house. Its creation is quite simple and does not require large expenses. You just need to install ventilation and heating. Another simplified option is a winter garden on the roof, which makes it possible to save on the foundation, however, the frame and the roof still have to be built. You also need to think about how to build a staircase.

The three-façade construction of the winter garden is adjacent to the building on only one side

Features of creation winter garden project

There are more than a dozen projects for a winter garden attached to the house. Photos show their diversity:

1. Rectangular lean-to annex.
2. Rectangular lean-to annex with a break
3. The rectangular annex is gable.
4. A lean-to winter garden attached to the inner corner of the house.
5. A lean-to winter garden attached to the outer corner of the house.
6. A lean-to bay window extension to the outer corner.
7. Single-window corner lean-to building.
8. Single-slope double-window construction.
9. Shed single-window corner extension.
10. A gable winter garden with a bay window.

Scheme for the construction of a winter garden in a private house

The roof of the lean-to annex has one roof slope with a minimum slope of 10 °. Builders recommend maintaining an angle of at least 25 °, and the most optimal one is 45 °. A gable roof, as a rule, has two slopes, block extensions - three or more roof slopes.

Projects of winter gardens in the form of gazebos are quite common, their classification depends on the number of faces and the method of extension:

• multifaceted;

The roof of the winter garden is an important architectural detail that transforms the space of the room.

• hex;
• triangular.

Winter garden design in a private house

The aesthetic function of the winter garden implies conformity with style. There are several of the most common winter garden styles.

Classic style. It implies the location of the greenhouse in a spacious room, with many plants that grow in the same climatic zone. Clear symmetry, strict design are the hallmarks of the classics. Parrots or canaries in cages or a pond with fish can be an element of decoration for such a garden. Hemp, driftwood, stones, small trees serve as decor.

The main difference of classic winter gardens is a high multi-stage glazed roof

Japanese style. Free space, good ventilation, conciseness and asymmetry are the main distinguishing features of a Japanese winter garden. At the same time, seeming external simplicity requires a professional approach to its creation.

Hi-tech. Exotic plants, clear geometry. Concrete, metal and composite materials are used in the design. Such a garden is a great addition to an office.

Modern. The style was popular at the turn of the millennium. Distinctive features - clarity of lines, the presence of air space and a minimum of decor.

In a high-tech conservatory, the main task is to make the most functional and practical use of the available space.

Before making a winter garden in a private house, you need to design it - this is a laborious and most crucial stage of creation, which includes:

1. Sketch stage. When creating a sketch, special design programs are used. The most popular of them are Solid Works, Auto Cad, Pro Ingeneer, 3Ds Max. The sketch shows the number of windows, transoms and hatches.
2. The creation of a project is a clear drawing of the schemes for the contiguity of the winter garden to the wall of the house, the dimensions of the structures and the intended material. Lighting, dimming, water supply and heating systems are planned. It is necessary to calculate the power of the racks and transoms.
3. At the design stage, drawings are directly drawn up, according to which you can build a winter garden in a private house with your own hands.

Useful advice! It is quite possible to build a winter garden with your own hands, having a detailed and detailed project, but it is better to entrust the creation of a project to experienced architects.

Step-by-step instructions for making a winter garden

How to make a winter garden - the best advice will be given by experts, since a professional approach requires not only design, but also installation. Guided by the advice, following the instructions clearly, you can get the desired result.

You can choose a rational project and build a winter garden with your own hands, but in any case, this will require certain money and time from the owners of apartments and houses.

Depending on the location of the winter garden to the main room, calculations are made and materials are selected. The adjoining structure has no more than three common parts with the house. The extension being created should not reduce the thermal insulation characteristics of the main room, but, on the contrary, help reduce heat loss. It depends on engineering calculations and materials.

The construction of the winter garden, in addition to the construction of the foundation and direct installation of the supporting structure, includes the following stages:

• glazing and insulation of the extension;

To be able to spend time in the winter garden all year round, glass must be of the highest quality with thermal insulation

• installation of a heating system;
• installation of water supply and irrigation systems;
• electrical wiring and lighting;
• ventilation system equipment;
• installation of protection against excessive exposure to sunlight;
• selection of plants and garden decoration.

Foundation construction and frame installation

The foundation of the winter garden is the basis on which the strength and durability of the entire structure depends. The cost part can be one fifth of the total construction budget.

For such buildings, a shallow strip foundation is used. Ready-made reinforced or reinforced concrete slabs with a thickness of more than 20 cm are suitable. The choice of depth is influenced by the composition of the soil, climate, relief.

During the construction of the winter garden, it is recommended to make a strip foundation, laying it to a depth of 80-100 cm, with a basement height of 6-10 cm

The building frame can be purchased ready-made. Fortunately, the modern market offers many models. Installation does not take much time and effort, but you cannot do it alone - you need support.Structural details are attached to special connections in the foundation.

Glazing of the winter garden in the house

Glass is one of the main materials used in the construction of a winter garden. Even when designing, it should be taken into account that this material is quite weighty and can create a certain load on the supporting structure, it is also enhanced by the effects of wind and snow.

The key point in creating a winter garden is glazing - glass must certainly be insulated

The assumed loads at the joints are calculated using the same method as for metal-plastic glass structures, where the rack-transom serves as a connecting link of the load-bearing ones. Thermal characteristics correspond to the glazing of the living space. To compile the calculations, SNiP 2.01.07-85 is used, taking into account the changes of 05/29/2003.

The construction of a winter garden implies the presence of openwork supporting structures. This can be a problem, especially in regions with a temperate climate, where the temperature difference during the year is 50 ° C or more. Therefore, vertical supports must create resistance to heat transfer (Rwr, m²K / W) from 0.4 (SP 23-101-2004).

Winter garden project attached to the house

Such parameters have designs of single-chamber double-glazed windows, but require the installation of a bearing brick support with a side of at least 230 cm, which can negatively affect the illumination. Combining wood and aluminum will help solve the problem.

Additional insulation must be provided at the junction of the glass wall and the pitched roof.

Note! The roof requires special attention when glazing. Shed with one run - the most economical. When choosing a glass, you need to take into account the snow load in the region. The ramp angle is at least 20 degrees. It should be noted that slopes with transitions will create problems when snow melts.

Winter garden heating

Glass or polycarbonate can store enough heat for more than six months - from mid-spring to mid-autumn. In cold weather, you need to worry about efficient heating.

When choosing a heating method, it is necessary to take into account the size of the room and the type of plants grown. If this is a small greenhouse on the balcony, then a simple heater is enough, if the winter garden is in a private house, then you cannot do without a heating system.

Thanks to heaters, a stable temperature is established in the winter garden, suitable for growing certain plants

You can heat the greenhouse in one of several ways.

Electric heaters. Convenient in terms of their mobility, ease of installation and use if necessary. At the same time, the operation leads to significant financial costs. Frequent use dries the air, which has a negative effect on plants.

Air conditioners and heaters UFO. With their help, you can regulate the temperature without drying out the air, however, they are expensive to purchase and operate.

Water heating is often used to heat conservatories and terraces in a private house. Such a system implies connection to the main heating system, which allows you to maintain a constant temperature, without differences between living rooms and the garden. This terrace is a great place to relax. The location of heating pipes along the walls protects the walls and roof from icing.

By placing a "warm floor system" under the top covering, you can significantly simplify control over maintaining a stable air temperature in the winter garden

Stove heating is the possibility of using alternative raw materials. The design of the stove will add a special flavor to the garden. At the same time, uneven heat distribution can be observed, the stove requires close attention, due to the high fire hazard.

Air heating is the distillation of warm air from the main heated room or using an air heater. The system is inexpensive, but it implies additional insulation, the air ducts are quite voluminous and can spoil the appearance.

One of the common ways to heat an attached winter garden in a house is a stove.

Underfloor heating in the garden is laborious in design, installation and connection. Installation must be carried out prior to setting up the garden. The system allows you to create an optimal thermal regime in the garden, promotes the development of roots.

Useful advice! Combining several types of heating will create an optimal heating system. It should also be noted that heating is closely related to the ventilation system.

Even at the stage of selecting materials, one should take into account the different coefficient of thermal elongation. So, taking into account the temperature difference up to 50 ° C, the thermal expansion of aluminum per meter of length is 1.2 mm, steel - 0.65, glass - 0.45. These data must be taken into account in order to avoid deformation. Air temperature during installation must also be taken into account. Gaskets and sealants serve as sealing.

Using an IR heater for a winter garden, it is possible to maintain a stable humidity, since the air does not dry out and does not burn out during heating

Installation of water supply and irrigation systems in the winter garden

There are many different irrigation systems that allow irrigation to be carried out automatically, using different irrigation modes according to the moisture requirement.

The most popular is automatic drip irrigation system... It is a hose with perforations through which irrigation is dosed. Water gets exclusively to the roots of plants, and special sensors allow monitoring the moisture level in the soil.

For water-loving plants that require irrigation of the vegetative part, special fountains are installed. The devices simultaneously humidify the air and serve as a garden decoration. Excess water must go through an equipped drainage system.

A winter garden equipped with a pond does not require additional moisture methods

The winter garden with a swimming pool does not require additional moisture. A reservoir with internal circulation and a connected drainage system will provide the necessary water cycle in the greenhouse.

Wiring and lighting: savings and efficiency

Plants in the cold season and cloudy weather lack sunlight, which negatively affects their growth and requires the installation of additional lighting in the winter garden.

For this, you should not take ordinary incandescent lamps. They do not promote photosynthesis, but, on the contrary, can harm tall plants with excessive heat.

Supplementary lighting in the winter garden can be organized using fluorescent, sodium or metal halide phytolamps, which are selected in accordance with the characteristics of the plants

Fluorescent and metal halide lamps are also not suitable due to their relatively short lifespan. Sodium lamps that are sensitive to voltage drops should also be excluded from the list.

But phytolamps were specially invented as an additional source of light for plants. They are divided into LED and fluorescent.

The functioning of most life-supporting systems in the garden depends on the power supply, therefore, even during the design, you need to think about the type of electrical wiring, where to connect sockets and lamps.

Good natural light for plants in the winter garden is the main factor that ensures their life.

Useful advice! To illuminate an area of ​​5 m², 4 metal halide lamps with a power of 40 W or just one sodium lamp of 250 W are required.

Ventilation system equipment

A winter greenhouse or garden, wherever they are - in an annex, a separate building or an apartment balcony - requires ventilation. Ventilation can be done in one of two ways.

Natural ventilation is carried out by opening vents or windows. In this case, the area of ​​open places should be at least a quarter of the area of ​​the walls. Supply and exhaust ventilation is also considered natural. Fresh air enters through special holes in the walls and through the vents in the roof. This system does not cause noise and drafts. Remember that the window doors can be damaged by wind.

The winter garden is ventilated by a wall fan

Mechanical ventilation involves the use of fans to extract air. At the same time, he acts in a natural way. This system requires an electrical connection and generates noise.

Protecting the winter garden from strong solar radiation

Plants can suffer from either a lack or an excess of sunlight and heat, especially during hot summer months. For this, means of protection from the sun's rays have been invented. Curtains and blinds that can trap 40% of the light provide internal protection. They are made from fabric, plastic, bamboo or metal alloys.

External protection in the form of awnings and awnings prevents the penetration of up to 90% of light. They are made from reflective fabric. This protection also prevents the walls from getting too hot.

Blinds in the conservatory are the main systems of internal shading, they protect the room from bright sun and heat

Plants for the winter garden and decoration

Along with heating, lighting and watering, you need to take care of high-quality soil, provide it with sufficient fertilization and oxygen enrichment. It is best to use special soil-wood mixtures. When choosing plants for a winter garden in a private house, you need to be guided not only by taste, but also by the ability of different species and varieties to coexist.

Regardless of the size, design and location of the greenhouse, the combination of colors for a winter garden in a private house should be a well-composed composition, and not represent a tastelessness in the form of a collection of pots. It is simply unrealistic to collect plants from different parts of the planet in one place, because representatives of different species and climatic zones require special conditions.

The greenhouse at home assumes the constant presence of exactly flowering plants, therefore experienced florists plant plants, depending on the season.

In winter, they prefer primrose, Kalanchoe, daffodils and tulips. With the appearance of spring heat, hyacinths, lilies, hydrangeas, pelargoniums, astilbe, schizanthus are additionally planted. In the summer, one bulbous is replaced by another. Oriental and Asian lilies, begonias, zinnias, perilla, vinca, salfia, echinacea grow well. Autumn is the time of cyclamens, kochii, gomphenes, chrysanthemums. With this approach, exotic flowers will be fragrant in the winter garden all year round.

When choosing plants for a winter garden, it is important to make sure that they are somewhat diverse, this will add charm and originality to any room

Useful advice! It is very difficult to create several microzones in the winter garden, so it is better to choose plants belonging to the same category. For example, for the growth of tropical plants, the optimum temperature is 22^aboutC, for subtropical - 10^aboutFROM.

Winter garden in the apartment: rational arrangement and design

You can create a piece of summer not only in a house with a yard, but also in an apartment. To do this, it is enough to have the desire to rationally distribute the space by filling the space with flowers. The climbing plants on the walls will create a vertical garden. The pots can be placed at the bottom and allow the stems to be pulled up on the special supports. If the flowerpots, on the contrary, are hung, then the plants will simply fall freely down.

It is better to place light-loving flowers in an apartment closer to the windows, creating a background. In the second row from the window, the best place will be for lush flowering plants. It is better to arrange large-leaved flowers in the third row, and provide the central part to large and attractive representatives of the fauna.

Winter garden on the balcony or loggias

A spacious balcony or loggia is the best option for placing a winter garden in an apartment. Here you can place a different number of ornamental plants, having previously prepared the area. It is also worth taking care of insulation, heating and additional lighting.

Thanks to the plants in the winter garden, the oxygen-enriched balcony can be used as a bedroom, dining room or study

Loggia is a great place to create a greenhouse in an apartment. The main thing is freezing temperature and a sufficient amount of light, which can provide the location of the garden in the east or west. The southern side will allow growing thermophilic cacti and phlox, and the northern one - conifers.

Useful advice! You can create a greenhouse in a house with your own hands in any free corner or throughout the entire apartment, using additional functional features of plants. For example, curly ivy or sprawling fern will become a “living” drapery in an unsightly corner.

The winter garden is a great place for rest and relaxation. The process of its creation in a private house is laborious, requires attention and some effort. If we take into account all the engineering features, have the means and time, then it is quite possible to independently create a private greenhouse. In this matter, you should not neglect the advice of specialists. You can create a small garden in an apartment with the help of imagination and rational use of space for plants that will delight you with flowers and greens all year round, reminding you of summer.