The desire to create residential conservatories, orangeries and greenhouses has been around since the days of Emperor Tiberius. Doctors told him he needed to eat fruits from the melon and cucumber family every day for his health. However, how does one grow these sought-after products year-round with the hazards of summer’s intense heat and winter’s biting cold? 

At that time, gardeners moved each garden bed outdoors during the day, then transferred them back indoors every evening to protect them from the elements. This method continued for years until the Roman Empire built the earliest orangeries to protect highly sought-after citrus.

As glass became more accessible, the early greenhouses were a more advanced method for plant growth by increasing the amount of glass that made up the structure. Some of the world’s most beautiful conservatories and greenhouses came from this new technology – the Great Syon Park Conservatory, the Palm House at Kew Gardens, and the Schoenborn Conservatory in Vienna. The concept of residential conservatories, however, did not arise until insulated glass became available in the 1970s.

According to Alan, co-author of “The Conservatory: Gardens Under Glass”, “…the idea of taking a greenhouse, which is primarily used for plants, and turning it into a living space started happening in the 1970s… insulated glass was invented and became widespread in construction so that allowed you to take a greenhouse which normally would be kind of cold and drafty and design and build rooms which could be heated and cooled, kind of like the rest of your house…”

Today, we associate residential greenhouses with growing plants where its primary focus is on the health and propagation of the plants. Residential conservatories serve as an extension of your home, an insulated living space for people to be more connected to nature.

To learn more about the fascinating history of conservatories, orangeries, and greenhouses, check out our latest book “The Conservatory: Gardens Under Glass” or click the button below to share your vision for your own residential conservatory or greenhouse with our team!