While the Greenhouse grew from an empty site in Federation Square, Annemarie Kiely, Earl Carter and Studio Pip and Co. nailed down Joost, made sense of the Greenhouse project and all the ideas flying in his world.

As the structure had not been built before, the best one could describe and illustrate the project is by illustrating the materials, methods and contributors to the project – the recycling guy, the compost man, the builders, the raw ingredients, the food, straw bails, steel, the furniture, the fittings…

The publication is designed to have many uses. Of the six four page sections, the outer four page sections are two sided posters, the two inner sections remaining house all the written information. This outcome allows Joost, or the user, to use the posters for publicity and promotional purposes, while leaving the written information intact.

The publication was pulled together (the concept, layout design, additional writing, and proofing) in a little over two weeks, the photography and writing component over eight weeks. The straw bail on the front cover was a last minute inspiration. The cover offers the opportunity to set the tone of the publication – the straw bail was the perfect image, as it is a key building material that maintains the temperature within the Greenhouse itself. It is also an unconventional, simple and evolutionary building product.

Joost was attracted to using newsprint technology as a printed product – it a process that can come together rapidly, it is inexpensive and the end product can be recycled, or composted easily. Newsprinters based in Shepparton was then introduced and brought their knowledge and experience to the piece. Newsprinters specified a unique news printer paper made from 77% recycled paper, – Nornews 45gsm, by Norske Skog manufactured in Albury, NSW. All that was left was to upload artwork, a high resolution PDF document, to Newsprinters internet server, then overnight proofing, plates, printing and delivery back to Melbourne within 18 hours, ready for the when the doors opened to the public.

The Greenhouse paper is available from the Greenhouse and selected sites in Melbourne. If you take a copy, remember after use  to put it back into the system – pass it onto friend, or go out of your way to have it recycled or composted.

Thanks to all the contributors, visit Earl Carter, Studio Pip and Co, and Newsprinters here.

After three weeks of work and sleepless nights the Greenhouse opened it’s doors for a special housewarming…

Please note that there is a little more to do to complete the site and the Greenhouse will be open from 4pm from 31 October to 02 November and then normal hours as advertised. Andrew from Studio Pip and Co. sent us these images his iphone of the night.

The crew make finishing touches

Crew tee by Joost available from the Greenhouse

Strawberry wall

Inside the Greenhouse featuring views of Flinders Street and artwork by artist David Bromley.

The project is being built offsite by Lexon Constructions and the onsite construction will commence from 13 October 2008. In the meantime inspect the latest renderings of the Greenhouse; designed by Joost and engineered by Tim Gibney of Tim Gibney & Associates, planned for the Amphitheatre at Federation Square.