An octagonal greenhouse for a kitchen garden

After a large amount of waste was found behind some overgrown Leylandii, courtesy of previous neighbours, James Alexander-Sinclair (our clients’ garden designer) had a challenge on his hands. The prohibitive cost of getting rid of the rubbish meant that ingenuity was called for.

James chose to create a landscape of hills and softly ascending bumps which hid the waste with good soil. Planning permission was needed for the greenhouse as part of a major refurbishment of the property and grounds. This was sought by Alitex on behalf of the client and gave the go ahead on this unique project.

As the client wanted a statement focal point to their new ornamental garden, the greenhouse had to impress; the final design evolved from a freestanding structure to an octagonal glasshouse.

With its roots firmly in the 19th century, octagonal structures can be seen in Botanic Gardens around the world, and create a central height that’s perfect for display and impact.

The Alitex Design Team introduced columns to support the structural ring beam and a high eaves height for the gutter to blend naturally into the structure. Venting was built in to the turret to encourage airflow throughout the full height of the glasshouse

The Traditional Benching and Floor Grids were specially designed to fit in with the octagonal structure. The Benching is powder-coated in black, contrasting to the white structure, giving a traditional look. A central planter was installed, making the best use of space, and Cold Frames fitted to the four facets provide specialised space for hardening off seedlings.

Learn more information on hexagonal and octagonal greenhouses.