Grüningen Botanical Garden Greenhouse Nurtures Bananas and Papayas in Switzerland

Switzerland doesn't normally invoke images of lush subtropical plants, but this striking greenhouse designed by <a href="http://id-a.ch/projekte/07048_bog">Buehrer Wuest Architekten</a> allows bananas and papayas to flourish in these northern climes. Inspired by shapes and structures found in nature, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanical_garden">the botanical garden</a> greenhouse in the village of Grüningen features four five-meter-tall steel trees that branch out into a canopy.

The Gruningen greenhouse was built to exist in harmony with the surrounding environment

Four five meter tall steel trees provide the main structural support

The stumps then arch into a canopy of steel branches

The entire structure is then topped with a geometric roof

The site plan shows how the design vaguely mimics cell division

Note how the steel trees are arranged