Conservatories are buildings made of glass and used as greenhouses or sunrooms. Today’s structures are places where homeowners can extend their living space or cultivate flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

1. From Garden Preservation to Status
Symbol: A History of Conservatories
Conservatory Craftsmen

2. Conservatories are buildings made of glass and used as greenhouses or sunrooms. Today’s structures
are places where homeowners can extend their living space or cultivate flowers, fruits, and
vegetables.
The Crude Beginnings of Conservatories
Conservatories are said to have had their beginnings in Italy in the 16th century.
Italians used to crudely preserve citruses and other crude plants by building pergolas over potted
plants. Other homeowners would move their potted plants indoors for the winter by using wood
panels in storerooms. The Limonaia at Boboli Gardens is one Italy’s remaining structures that has
survived the test of time.
A Status Symbol for the Elite
In the north of Europe, conservatories were called orangeries, structures on fashionable residences
that protected oranges and other fruit trees during the winter. These enclosed structures were made
of brick, stone, or wood. Tall, vertical windows extended on the south sides of the orangeries.
Although orangeries were used to protect trees, they became a status symbol of the elite. This led to
many noblemen to hire world-class garden designers and architects to construct and design
orangeries with various features. Some buildings contained underfloor heating, while others had
windows in the roofs for better ventilation. Members of the elite ordered exotic plants to improve
the look of their private garden.

3. The Golden Age of Conservatory Building
The Golden Age of conservatory building began in the 19th century, mainly in England. Conservatories
became the product of the English’s passion for gardening.
Conservatory designers used various technologies for gas and heating to set apart their structures.
They also built their structures with materials like glass and iron.
One of the most noteworthy conservatories in the world is Oxford’s Botanic Garden. Today the garden
showcases and preserves a variety of plants and flowers.
Modern Conservatory Structures
The widespread construction of conservatories halted with the beginning of World War II. Design and
construction for residential properties didn’t resume until 1950. By then, homeowners preferred
simple sunroom structures. By the 1970s, the designs for conservatories were recreated from
Victorian-style English conservatories.
Today’s conservatories use technologies to be as energy-efficient as possible. Some innovations
include heat reflective film, thermal ribbons, and smart systems.

4. Sources:
https://conservatorycraftsmen.com/
https://www.wmf.org/project/limonaia-boboli-gardens-and-garden-villa-medici-castello
https://www.obga.ox.ac.uk/conservatory-0