PROJECT DETAILS
ALTMARKT garten in Oberhausen: Urban Farming Pilot Project with VARIOLUX Greenhouse System
With the ALTMARKTgarten, a real-life laboratory for urban farming has been established in Oberhausen. The greenhouse, constructed on the rooftop of the local Job Centre, is used to cultivate herbs, lettuces, and strawberries for the regional market – all based on an urban farming concept developed by the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT. The project was realised using the VARIOLUX Thermo36 HI greenhouse system.
Building-Integrated Agriculture for the Future of Food
Building-integrated agriculture – the cultivation of fruit and vegetables within urban areas – represents a promising solution for the future of sustainable food systems. In the greenhouse, completed in 2019, over 1,000 m² of growing space is available across four climate-controlled chambers, in addition to a dedicated research area for the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT. Each chamber can be individually regulated to suit the temperature and humidity needs of the crops. Even the required resources are sourced directly from the building itself – for instance, by reusing waste heat and harvesting rainwater.
A Greenhouse System That Delivers
A key challenge in planning the greenhouse structure was ensuring compatibility with the solid-construction Job Centre building below. The solution was the highly insulated, thermally broken VARIOLUX Thermo36 hi system – implemented using the wide-span construction method typical of greenhouses. This system meets both structural and aesthetic requirements while offering excellent thermal insulation. Thanks to its modular design, the construction could be planned and installed in a highly time-efficient manner.
The project received €2.3 million in funding from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety as part of the “National Urban Development Projects” programme.
VARIOLUX Greenhouse System
Our patented greenhouse system combines maximum design flexibility with energy efficiency and sustainability. Whether you need an open roof construction, a fully glazed building envelope, or the integration of photovoltaic panels – our experts and partners support your project from concept to completion.
