The Natural History Museum is part of the University of Oslo, where there are many exciting developments in the field of sustainability. When a greenhouse was to be built to free up space in the museum shop, sustainability was a consideration from the outset.
To finance the project, exhibition designer Morten applied for Green grants from Green Office. This is funding that all employees and students at the University of Oslo can apply for if they have an initiative that can make the university more sustainable.
Green Office visited the greenhouse at the Botanical Garden and talked to Morten about the construction process.
‘For the windows and doors, we used display glass from the “Tree of Life” exhibition, which was previously located in Collet's House. It was not possible to divide the glass, so we had to adapt the size of the greenhouse accordingly. The mouldings and panelling are also reused from the old exhibition, and the roof tiles were previously used in the Botanical Garden,’ says Morten.
Morten has brought the circular economy mindset with him from his previous career as a cabinetmaker and designer. He explains that reuse is not only important for sustainability, but can also be financially rewarding.
–The greenhouse was built in a spirit of community service with the help of museum shop employees, gardeners from the garden and apprentices, as well as several colleagues who pitched in when needed. It is expensive to buy new materials, so the fact that we reused a large part of the materials meant that costs were significantly reduced, he says with a smile.
Hanne Lene Skjekles?ther, general manager of the museum shop, says that the greenhouse is used differently in different seasons.
–In the summer we sell plants and gardening tools, onions in the autumn, and when the cold weather arrives we sell bird food, bird feeders and other items that can withstand the winter, she says.
They hope that the greenhouse will inspire UiO and the Natural History Museum to make better provision for the reuse of materials, recycling and sustainable solutions in exhibitions, buildings and facilities.
Morten and Hanne Lene want to carry out more circular construction projects at the Natural History Museum in the future.
We at the Green Office wish them the best of luck!
Do you have an idea that could contribute to a more sustainable UiO? Apply for green grants!