Conservatories and Where They Came From
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Conservatories were originally used by wealthy landowners to cultivate citrus fruits and other tender plants in the 16th century. Initially, they simply moved the plants indoors when the weather became too much for the plants to handle until it became a trend to have special purpose buildings called 'orangeries' to protect these plants. They were made of wood, brick or stone and the south wall would be filled with wide windows from end to end. Over time, the plant selection inside these buildings widened in variety until the structure came to be known as a 'greenhouse'.
In the 18th century, sloping glass was integrated into its design as introduced by a Dutch scientist. This would help bring in more light and warmth for the smaller plants. The love of gardening stretched out through the 19th century which one might consider as the golden age of conservatories, with animals sometimes being housed with the plants as well. Eventually, the conservatory served a new purpose, with people using them to hold tea parties.
The World War II ended the widespread construction of conservatories in the UK. They started resurfacing in the form of simple sunrooms in the 1950s and 1960s, until architects and builders began recreating the designs from the 19th century using insulated glass in the 1970s.
Today, these conservatories have not only withstood time as far as designs are concerned, but have also started a revolution of innovation as far as materials and purpose are concerned. Considering that these structures are now used mostly as a sitting room or a living area, specifications from the original designs have been altered to fit every homeowner's needs. |
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Author Resource:-
conservatories have definitely seen a lot of changes as different eras progressed. But a conservatory's classic designs remind us of how this architectural beauty has withstood time.
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By :
ulten Steele
Submitted
2011-10-04 12:20:23 |
Article From Article Mayhem
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