Building your dream home is always challenging, but for Roja and Johan in Vadstena, their project was both a journey towards self-realization and a celebration of sustainable living. In the second episode, Vadstena – Grand Designs Sweden, we follow the couple as they realize an ambitious vision: to create a Naturhus, a house surrounded by a greenhouse, where ecology and design meet in perfect symbiosis. Here is their story, filled with both difficulties and triumphs.
Table of contents
What is a Nature House?
A Naturhus is a unique type of housing developed by architect Bengt Warne in the 1970s. It is characterized by the fact that the house is enclosed by a large greenhouse, which creates a protected climate around the building. This solution not only adds an aesthetic dimension but also helps reduce energy costs and enables self-sufficiency through cultivation. For Roja and Johan in Vadstena, this concept became the basis for their dream of a home that reflects both their personalities and their commitment to sustainability.
A project born of passion
Roja, with her background from Iran, dreamed of recreating a climate and greenery reminiscent of her childhood orchards. For Johan, a mechanical engineer, this project was a chance to combine technical skills with a desire to create something unique with his life partner.
Their house was planned as a 290 square meter dwelling, spread over three floors, wrapped in a 400 square meter greenhouse. The greenhouse was divided into three sections: a pool area, a cultivation area and the house itself. The Mediterranean climate inside the greenhouse would not only provide warmth and light, but also allow for the cultivation of everything from eggplants to melons.
Challenges and adaptations
Realizing a project like this on a tight budget is no small task. Roja and Johan set a budget of SEK 4 million, but soon realized that the house would cost much more – up to SEK 6 to 7 million. To keep costs down, they decided to do most of the work themselves, which meant long days and nights of hard physical labor. Roja juggled three jobs, while Johan built steel structures and installed 1,221 glass panels.
A major cost surprise was the foundation of the greenhouse, which, due to the soil conditions, needed to be poured much more extensively than planned. This increased the cost of the project by three times the original cost of this element.
Sustainable technologies in practice
The Nature House is not only an architectural achievement; it is also an ecological experiment. The basement houses an advanced sewage system that treats household wastewater and converts it into nutrient-rich fertilizer water for the plants in the greenhouse. The process is completely chemical-free and exemplifies a circular use of resources. The greenhouse acts as a microclimate where Mediterranean plants thrive, allowing Roja and Johan to become almost entirely self-sufficient in fruits and vegetables.
The result: A celebration of love and nature
After two and a half years and a final bill of SEK 5.5 million, Roja and Johan could finally move into their completed Naturhus. Despite budget and time constraints, and many late nights and early mornings, they have created a home that combines Swedish engineering with Iranian warmth.
The kitchen, with its walnut interior and solid Ekeberg marble worktop, is a central part of the house. Here Roja can cook while looking out over the lush crops in the greenhouse. Johan designed and built the staircase himself, a construction that is hailed as a masterpiece of engineering.
Facts about the house
Architect: TailorMade Arkitekter
Construction start: Spring 2019
Completed: Summer 2021
Living area: 290 sqm
Greenhouse area: 400 sqm
Budget: SEK 4 million (final cost: SEK 5.5 million)
Facade: Silica-treated spruce panel
An inspiring vision of the future
Naturhuset in Vadstena is more than a home – it’s proof that sustainable solutions are possible even in difficult circumstances. Roja and Johan’s journey shows that with passion, collaboration and a dose of stubbornness, dreams can become reality. This house is not just their home, but a symbol of what the architecture of the future can be: a combination of aesthetics, function and respect for natural resources.
