When most people hear the word ‘conservatory’, they think of an extension with floor-to-ceiling windows that allows homeowners to enjoy looking out onto their garden without having to face inclement weather conditions. However, conservatories can be so much more than that, with some being among the world’s most spectacular buildings.
Where did they come from?
The brief history of the conservatory is that they originated in the 16th century as a way for wealthy people to grow Mediterranean fruits that would, otherwise, not survive in the cold weather. These outbuildings that formed part of stately homes had glass walls and ceilings to attract as much heat and light in as possible, which would help the citrus fruits grow.
That’s why the most well-known conservatories continue to do just that, providing a climate that cultivates vegetation and architecture that looks incredible.
The Eden Project
The most famous conservatory in the UK has to be the Eden Project, situated in Cornwall. This is thought to be the largest in the world and boasts waterfalls and sculptures, as well as tropical plants.
Its famous glass domes are now home to the biggest indoor rainforest with more than 1,000 varieties of plants. It also has a Mediterranean biome, as well as gardens from California, South Africa, and Western Australia.
Kew Gardens
Another fantastic British conservatory to explore is Kew Royal Botanical Gardens in south-west London. There are three main greenhouses, two of which were built in the Victorian era.
The Palm House is a tropical haven, while the Temperature House has more than 1,500 temperature plant species. It also happens to be the biggest Victorian conservatory that is still standing.
The Princess of Wales Conservatory, which was opened in the ‘80s, has ten micro-climates. These include the desert and Amazonian rainforest, and features plants such as tropical orchids, giant waterlilies, and bromeliads.
Kew Royal Botanical Gardens is now a UNESCO World Heritage site containing more than 50,000 living plants.
Bicentennial Conservatory in Adelaide
Further afield in Adelaide, Australia, is the Bicentennial Conservatory. This was built in 1989 but has become one of the country’s most famous landmarks over the last 34 years.
The 100-metre long building is curvilinear and stretches 27 metres high. It houses thousands of lowland rainforest plants from the likes of Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Pacific Islands, and northern Australia, many of which are in danger of extinction.
In 2014, it received Heritage Listing, becoming the youngest building in southern Australia to achieve the accolade.
Muttart Conservatory, Alberta
Another distinct-looking greenhouse is the Muttart Conservatory in Alberta, Western Canada.
It features four glasshouses in the shape of pyramids, giving the site a truly distinct landscape. Each conservatory has its own climate, with one housing desert plants, another with topical vegetation, the third for temperature foliage, and the last offering seasonal exhibitions.
More than 100,000 visitors head to Muttart Conservatory, which was opened in 1976, every year.