THIS POOLSIDE CONSERVATORY RETREAT was commissioned by its owners who wanted facilities next to their pool which was set amid their mature formal garden away from the house. A glass conservatory seemed a perfect solution – a sculptural yet functional design element that would fit well with the surrounding fountains, statuary and urns. A stylish freestanding glass room at the edge of the landscape as well as a backdrop for the adjacent terrace would certainly be a sought after venue.

The architect had chosen a site at the far end of the pool where this custom glass conservatory would have access from a lower driveway. The conservatory was planned to sit atop a full suite of exercise rooms, sauna and showers and be connected to the lower level by an interior spiral staircase. The architect had sketched an elegant concept for the conservatory which was forwarded to Tanglewood for refinement.

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SEPARATED FROM THE SKY by the most delicate enclosure, this custom glass gallery conservatory glows in the evening and glitters at mid-day. Characteristically ethereal, the roof and chandelier seem suspended in mid-air.

The room was designed to cover an unused patio between two wings of a stately Tudor home. The design evolved into an inviting transition between home and garden and became a focal point for outdoor living.

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When the landscape architect for a garden project doodled a few shapes together on a page for a client, they didn't know what to expect. But, starting with nothing more than that drawing of a square, a circle and a crooked rectangle, Tanglewood developed and refined an elegant, award-winning conservatory greenhouse. The result was an unusual building, both simple and complex. Its parts, an almost perfect cube, a domed tower and a crooked rectangular gallery complete a study in their formal relationships.

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BEFORE THE MID-NINETEENTH CENTURY, when the technology used to construct glass roofs was developed, an orangery was simply a building with large south facing windows. Orangeries were used to conserve the specimen citrus trees stored inside during the cold winter months.

Today, however, an orangery is functionally synonymous with a conservatory or a greenhouse — although the name sounds more exotic.

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AT TANGLEWOOD, EXTRAORDINARY GLASS ARCHITECTURE IS OUR PASSION. As conservatory specialists, perfect function is our obsession.

The owners of this garden room wanted their conservatory to be away from the main house and fulfill many different functions. Inside, they sought a well-appointed sitting area and a spa to serve as a diverting getaway. Since the interior of the conservatory was too small to divide into separate spaces, we embraced combining the formal seating and the informal spa, and the juxtaposition of the two, within the one room.

Within its landscape, the freestanding building is a destination – a jewel box at the terminus of a stone path from the far end of a manicured lawn. One side of the conservatory borders an adjacent hedge maze. Creatively designed brick and stonework add character and texture.

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THE LONG, NARROW STRUCTURE OF THIS small greenhouse conservatory had to fit within this tiny footprint as the suburban lot would allow for nothing larger. In spite of its size, the diminutive glass jewel is not overwhelmed by the scale of the adjacent building.

When we surveyed the home at the beginning of the design process, we noticed that the back of the house was comprised of an interesting collection of architectural forms of differing character. There was a stone base with large arched openings to support a patio above, a well proportioned wood trellis on round columns and a gable roof, the alignment of which was skewed from the rest of the house.

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THIS INTERIOR REVEALS all that a conservatory has to offer. Hibiscus bloom in the foreground as ferns — suspended from structural tie rods doubling as plant holders — hang overhead. Every detail contributes to the ambience, from the curved windows and pilasters that match the conservatory’s exterior, to the exquisite Italian marble mosaic floor.

The unusual design of the woodwork was taken from a feature on the original building. Modified in proportion to the conservatory, these architectural elements are used inside and out. The table, dressed for an elegant meal, is made from steel supports salvaged from an old greenhouse that formerly stood at the same location.

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The client spoke of a sunroom with a “grand star-shaped display of light gracefully beaming through the roof”. When describing the design process for this unique skylight, the architect relates, “It began as just a flat glass plane in a starburst shape and then we separated it into a cluster of stars as if they were in a constellation. Then we decided to raise it up into a three-dimensional form with undulating planes of glass. It became a very complex geometric shape at that point.”

The main challenge with the design was how to minimize the amount of steel framing required to support the intricate shape. “We wanted the skylight to be like a crystalline glass jewel in a minimalist setting and did not want the heavy steel framing that we thought would be required.”

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THE ATTENTION WE BRING to every design and detail is evidenced in this uniquely shaped conservatory. The curved copper roof is contrasted with the flat glass of the cupola. Custom-designed pilasters, Corinthian capitals and cast-aluminum spires complete the dark, rich exterior, which is completely clad in metalwork — and totally maintenance free.

Inside, the conservatory presents lightly stained Douglas Fir while the leaded glass windows frame views of the terraced garden. The exposed curved ribs of the lower ceiling celebrate structure rather than conceal it, and the enlarged cornice doubles as shelving to display a collection of antique copper pots and pans. The natural light from the windows and cupola is supplemented by soft cove lighting behind the cornice and a custom-designed chandelier.

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THE OWNERS OF THIS CONSERVATORY are collectors of modern art but didn’t want a modern style room, since their house itself is classical. 

Great conservatory design begins with the owners—their ideas, feelings, and needs. So when we began the design for this project, the homeowners were deeply involved. Discussions on the merits of a modern approach versus a classical approach ensued. Could the two be melded together? Where was the right balance to be found? Too much detail and the room would be heavy, too little and it would not blend with the rest of the house.

The homeowners, with the keen eyes of artists themselves, researched examples, made suggestions and even presented their own sketches throughout the process. We have found that a collaborative effort yields the best results— we are happy that the owners of this conservatory agree!

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NESTLED INTO THE PROPERTY, THIS GARDEN CONSERVATORY was designed to transform an unused patio into a year-round haven that lightened up an otherwise dark adjoining room. Inspired by Tanglewood’s Small Greenhouse Conservatory, the family fell in love with the charm of this custom conservatory. Their vision was to stay true to the characters they admired in the Small Greenhouse Conservatory while still creating a space that was both functional and aesthetically pleasing to feel as if the conservatory was part of the original construction of their home.

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This custom glass dome conservatory with a lead-coated copper cupola was originally intended to be a mere greenhouse. Situated at the far end of the house adjacent to the garage, it turned out to be so spectacular that the owners decided to use it as a cloistered Great Room instead!

It fronts on a small well-kept lawn and is surrounded by colorful garden flowers. The main drive up to the home runs alongside the conservatory's entry which is covered by a glass-roofed canopy supported on brick piers. Constructed of beautiful mahogany stained to a deep rich tone that allows the full character of the wood to gleam through, the glass dome conservatory was then finished with a special resin-based coating that is unlikely to need further care. The mahogany is perfectly matched to the other woodwork on the exterior of the new home. Windows and doors are mahogany as are the numerous other parts and pieces of wood trim.

BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT and inspiring to be in, a conservatory quickly becomes a focal point in your home.

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THROWING AWAY THE MOLD every day presents Tanglewood with new challenges and the dream opportunity to bring wondrous, original creations to fruition.

The owners of this detached garden room requested a conservatory with a completely maintenance-free exterior that would also match their classically detailed home. The challenge was to find a material that appeared timeless and elegant but also required no maintenance. The solution was cast stone.

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A SUBTLE TWO-TONE COLOR SCHEME, custom-designed eave brackets, large, intricately patterned windows, and a rustic field stone patio distinguish the exterior of this custom hilltop conservatory. Wrought iron chairs and a stone bench complete the enchanting setting.

The anxious owners of this stone cottage perched high atop the foothills, had already constructed the foundation and the stone base for their new custom conservatory before contacting us. Not only was the size and shape of the new room “pre-determined”, the exact sizes and locations of the doors was literally cast in stone!

The challenging conservatory design solution was accomplished by using panes of glass each slightly differing in width. This allowed us to subtlety adjust the conservatory dimensions so that the overall effect is unnoticeable yet the conservatory fits flawlessly on its foundation and the owner’s stonework was not wasted.

The oversized, top-hung awing windows are ideal for capturing and controlling the mountain (or seaside, if that be the case) breezes. The sash are held firmly in place with our exclusive solid brass push bar and locking mechanism and the insect screens are always included.

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THIS GRAND CONSERVATORY, located on a riverfront estate, engages effortlessly with the original structure, which dates from the early 1800s. The standing-seam copper roof supports an octagonal glass cupola that washes the room with daylight. Custom-designed eave brackets are reinterpretations from those of the main house.

An immense room, the conservatory appears appropriate in scale because of the way its size is broken into smaller elements while respecting the scale of the whole. On the interior, the room was divided into a foyer and a main living space with the two areas separated by interior columns and a change in the roof/ceiling. The complex geometry of the roof helps relieve the room’s boxy shape.

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THE LAND SURROUNDING this custom conservatory gently slopes toward the river, so the structure itself becomes a passage. Taking its proportions and lines from the existing house, the conservatory functions as an architectural palindrome, from house to yard and back again. It offers a place to pause and contemplate — and either follow the path out into the yard or stop under the elegant canopy, perhaps to sit for tea among the flora or watch the tree that’s taken center stage dance in the breeze.

Throughout history, architecture and technology have found their perfect playground in the conservatory. This particular design features double 15-pane doors bracketed by Doric columns and a heavy cornice that echo the existing porticoes at the front and rear of the home. 

Although stylistically indebted to classicism, this conservatory makes use of sophisticated technologies. The roof is constructed of high-performance glass that blocks much of the heat, yet is virtually clear. The thermostatically controlled roof vents close automatically when it starts to rain — although we doubt the homeowners notice as they gaze over their lawn to the banks of the river.

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IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY, when it became fashionable to add a conservatory to stately manor homes, the new addition was often quite whimsical. It stood in stark contrast to the formal, stately architecture of the time. The concept of a glass house was new and without any precedent and architects of the day embraced the opportunity to conceive a new aesthetic. At the same time, technological advances led to the availability of inexpensive steel and large sheets of glass, and these opened new design possibilities that fueled imaginations.

The conservatory became a fanciful juxtaposition against the stone façade of a main building and it enclosed a stage-set fantasy of tropical jungles and forest escapes.

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