Couple encloses brick farm inside greenhouse where indoor-outdoor life blends seamlessly

Living in a greenhouse home has reshaped the way Anna Marie Madsen and Rasmus Møller experience rural life on the island of Mors in Northern Denmark.

Their Scandinavian greenhouse home began as a simple dream. Still, it turned into a bold project that now blends sunlight, recycled materials, and the peaceful rhythm of nature.

By building their compact brick house inside a 247-square-meter industrial glass structure, the couple created a sustainable glass house design that connects them to the outdoors every single day.

This nature-inspired home design gives them warmth, space, and the quiet beauty of the land they grew up in.

A dream that changed shape

Anna Marie once imagined a small home with a grass roof. But everything shifted when she and Rasmus visited another glasshouse.

The open feeling inside struck them both with great power. Anna Marie remembered the exact moment they decided to change their plans:

“And we looked at each other and thought, this is what we are going to do.”

From that moment, their idea of a Scandinavian greenhouse home took root.

Living in a greenhouse home: Embracing farming roots and a familiar landscape

Their land sits near vast fields and a large breeding pig farm, a familiar setting for the pair.

Both of them grew up in farming families, something Anna Marie explained simply: “We’re both born and raised on farms. So, this is kind of natural to us.”

The property once housed an old Danish farm, complete with a pigsty, cowshed, and barn. The original farmhouse was falling apart, but instead of throwing the materials away, they chose to reuse as much as possible.

This choice became a significant part of their sustainable glasshouse design.

Building a home inside glass

The outer structure of their home is an ordinary industrial greenhouse—the kind used for tomatoes.

The single layer of transparent glass forms a protective shell around the brick house, keeping out harsh weather while allowing sunlight to enter.

This design helped them stay tied to the outdoors while still having a warm and comfortable place to live.

The inner brick house carries its own story. All 21,000 bricks came from the old farmhouse that was torn down.

Cleaning each brick by hand took years, but they stayed committed. Anna Marie shared the scale of the job: “Yeah, we cleaned these $21,000$ bricks and reused them.”

Many of the bricks had already lived two lives, especially those taken from the barn walls, and are now being used for a third time.

They also reused many other pieces. The staircase once stood inside a police station.

The floors in the yoga studio originally came from a trade exhibition. Each reused element supported their nature-inspired home design while helping them save money and reduce waste.

Inside the greenhouse home

Bathroom: The bathroom connects directly to the greenhouse. When asked how often they open the door, Anna Marie shared a simple detail that says a lot about their lifestyle: “When we’re having a shower, it could be with a door open.”

Bedroom: The bedroom sits on the northwest side—the coldest side—looking outward to nature instead of the greenhouse. The walls are painted in a calming blue, giving the room a peaceful feel at night.

Sewing Nook & Guest Room: A small sewing nook with a view sits near the living area. It’s used more often in winter. There is also a guest room with a sliding door. Every room has a door that leads directly into the warm greenhouse space.

Open Layout: The inside of the brick house is small but open. Since their children have moved out, they only need space for two of them.

The couple described it best: “It’s not huge,” Anna Marie said. “It’s enough for two people. Yeah.” Rasmus added.

Anna Marie also mentioned that the layout is so open that “a vacuum cleaner can reach every corner from one place,” and the sliding doors help them adjust the space when needed.

Living in a greenhouse home: A changing climate, they embrace

One of the most important parts of their sustainable glasshouse design is the automatic venting system.

These vents were initially designed for farming and operate independently.

When the temperature reaches 22°C, they open. When it rains or gets too windy, they close.

“It’s for tomatoes,” Rasmus said, explaining the simple technology behind their nature-inspired home design.

The temperature inside the glass shifts quickly. One winter night showed just how powerful the sun’s heat can be. It was -15°C outside before dawn, but inside the greenhouse, the temperature remained at 9°C. By noon, sunlight pushed the temperature up to 22°C.

This warm, bright space lets the couple enjoy outdoor living longer than most people in Denmark.

They even use the rooftop terrace in winter. They often say they don’t need to travel far for warmth, joking, “We don’t have to go to the Mediterranean. We used to say, we have it here.”

The greenhouse also holds an outdoor stove for cooking and heating—and even pizzas.

Living in a greenhouse home: Experiencing nature indoors and out

The most significant aspect of their experience is the constant connection to nature. They can see the sky, the fjord, and the fields from almost every corner.

When asked what they love most, Anna Marie answered: “When people ask us what we like best about this, normally we answer this melting together of inside and outside, what’s in and what’s out.”

For Anna Marie, this bond with nature is essential. She teaches weekly yoga classes inside the greenhouse, letting students enjoy the light and open space.

She shared her vision: “I had this idea about a place where you can combine the feeling of the nature outside and the feeling of the yoga and inside and these thing they’re talking so good together.”

The greenhouse is more than a shelter. It is also a garden where they grow grapes, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

The grapevines give shade in summer. In winter, they cut them back to let more sunlight into the brick house.

Looking ahead, Anna Marie said she wants to build a creative workspace inside one of the old animal stalls. She strongly believes in work that connects the hands to the earth.

“Doing things by hand being in nature, it runs in our genes I think… basically it’s what we are made for as humans,” he said.

Their Scandinavian greenhouse home is more than a place to live—it is a living example of how simplicity, nature, and reused materials can come together in a warm and meaningful way.

Their sustainable glasshouse design continues to inspire people who dream of a gentle, nature-connected life.

Watch Anna Marie and Rasmus give a full tour of their Scandinavian greenhouse home and see the magic of living in a greenhouse home for yourself.

Discover incredible tiny home designs, smart layouts, and off-grid living ideas on their YouTube channel Kirsten Dirksen.