Driving from Dallas to Ft. Worth last week I did a double take; I thought time had warped when I saw the Great Crystal Palace, the seminal work of Joseph Paxton completed in 1851 for the London Industrial Exhibition, in its pristine glory actually there beside the Texas freeway!

Was I delusional?

I’ve been engrossed in writing my book on the Great Conservatories of the nineteenth Century among which, Paxton’s Crystal Palace is a giant icon, yes, but was I really seeing things? Actually, no! Architect Martin Growald created the design of the new InfoMart building for real estate tycoon Trammell Crow who envisions a permanent sales showcase for the newest electronic wonders.

Maybe the imagery is not so far off! After all, wasn’t the original Crystal Palace, built in London just for such a purpose – a massive exposition in which the inevitability of a richer and healthier future (due to the technological advances of the industrial revolution) would be on view? Over six million visitors came, many on horses, to view the latest and greatest of manufactured goods from all around the world.

If you have not seen this grand landmark we recommend a drive by!

There are so many things we can learn from the Great Conservatories that lived before us – and we’ve only hit the surface! We look forward to sharing our knowledge of these grand structures with you in my new book, The Conservatory: Gardens Under Glass.

Stay tuned for my book’s release October 22, 2020! To Pre-Order, CLICK HERE!

In the meantime, CONTACT US TODAY to talk with our team about how you can bring this time-honored tradition to your home!