Conservatories have been a common European architecture solution for many centuries. The principle being that an additional room is added to the main body of a building to allow the inhabitants to enjoy the surrounding landscape. In more temperate climates this can be easily provided by the addition of a verandah. Verandahs’ are by their nature, open to the elements. Their purpose is similar, but, by practicalities of environment, very different. These structures are roofed, but otherwise, open to the elements. They are attached to the main body of the house. Again, they are there expressly to facilitate the occupier enjoying the surroundings of the house. Unlike the European conservatory, these structures often extend around the front and sides of the house, whereas the conservatory is a room like structure protruding from either the back or side of a building. The verandah provides much needed shade, to keep the occupants cool during the heat of the day. This shade gives the additional benefit of helping to keep the interior of the house cool!
The conservatory will allow for protection against the elements, the good old English wind and rain, whilst allowing the occupant to enjoy the scenery. Conservatories are also commonly added to domestic dwellings in the USA and Canada. They have also been incorporated into domestic design in Australia and New Zealand. Although the term, conservatory conjures up the image of greenery, modern day conservatories are often devolved of plants. In the non European installations the conservatory is generally referred to as the patio, solarium and even Florida Room.
The structure of conservatories has been revolutionized during the last decade. Initially conservatories were always built of brick and glass. The glass would clearly be the means of access to the exterior, but prior to double glazing the greater the glassed surfaces the colder the room. Conservatories prior to double glazing were little more than stylish greenhouses. Post double glazing, the sky, or potential glass to structure ratio is virtually unlimited. No longer a cold no go area throughout the winter, now the conservatory is the place to be throughout the year.
The role of the conservatory has gradually mutated from greenhouse to family room over the past century. During the nineteenth century the conservatory was used as a large greenhouse. In the conservatory gardeners would grow tender plants. On version of a conservatories use in the past was that of an orangery. These structures were basically large conservatories in which the gardener nurtured citrus trees and exotic plants. Municipal versions of conservatories became popular during the late nineteenth century. There are some truly beautiful examples of these in Sheffields’ botanical gardens. These buildings were designed to provide the location for social functions. Tea parties became extremely popular and socially important during the Victorian period.
The small domestic conservatory has really only become popular during the twentieth. This has been facilitated by the great strides forward in building materials and building material design. Particular the development of cheap and effective pvc materials for construction. The warm conservatory has been made possible by the development of double glazing.
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