Whether the interest in urban food cultivation stems from a love of gardening or a desire for a sustainable lifestyle, residential greenhouses are on the rise. “Many cities, including Montreal and New York City are moving toward allowances in zoning that permit roof greenhouses,” says Kongshaug. The growing trend is seeing architects designing for a variety of scales, uses and budgets, and he already sees potential for uses beyond getting your hands dirty, including aquaponics, permaculture and community-based remedies and pharmaceuticals.
In Pittsburgh, the owners of a 19th century townhouse were among the first to go the contemporary conservatory route when, in 1978, they erected a rooftop greenhouse that allowed them to garden in a dense urban setting. Excess heat from the greenhouse provided heating to the individual apartments