Figure 15 greenhouses designs
The Quonset and gothic style are circular or parabolic shaped frames. They have round tubing that is
then draped with some sort of covering. The basic shape of the greenhouse ultimately limits what type
of glazing material could be used. Glass would not be usable in this type of construction. While the
design is simple, it does have some drawbacks that must be taken into consideration. The shape also is
not very space efficient; with a very low ceiling it would not be ideal for aquaponics. These drawbacks
would limit our space usage and air circulation. And because of snow and the weight of materials, the
round shapes usually are not the best option.
There are three frames that are simple, efficient, and would serve our needs.
The first one is the rigid-frame structure; it has vertical sidewalls and rafters for a clear-span
construction. There are no columns or
trusses to support the roof. Glued or nailed
plywood inserts connect the sidewall
supports to the rafters to make one rigid
frame. The conventional gable roof and
sidewalls allow maximum interior space
and air circulation. It needs a good
foundation to support the weight of the
materials and the side walls. It also
requires more material than some other
styles of greenhouses, since its structure is
more complex.
The next one is the post and rafter
structure, the post and rafter has a similar
design to the rigid-frame structure but it
requires more wood or metal in the
construction because it has columns or