Conservatories
If for you, the word conservatory conjures images of four o’clock tea and cucumber sandwiches, you are on the right track as a lot of residential homes in the UK have added-on or attached conservatories. At the turn of the 19th century, solariums started becoming incredible popular among the English. These cleverly designed greenhouses were developed in a bid to meet the nation’s love for gardening. Europe’s incredibly cold winters limited gardening buffs, while the conservatory (which were originally constructed from iron and glass) meant that gardening could be enjoyed throughout the year and the harsh elements of the British winter were kept at bay and the plants housed inside, thrived.
Apart from the glasshouse being the ideal environment to cultivate plants, many found that it was perfect for keeping small animals, and often a solarium housed both plants and animals.
Today, the modern conservatory is again gaining popularity and its uses are being extended. Although conservatories make the perfect environment for growing plants, a lot of sensible homeowners add these types of outdoor extensions onto their existing homes. In so doing, an instant, warm and cosy room is created – the ideal place to socialise and entertain. The glazing on the conservatory will ensure that heat that is generated within the room remains inside and the cold or freezing air remains outs.
Conservatories which were built in the early 1960’s were by design, simple and consisted of a single square like structure. In later years, builders and architects realised that a lot more could be done to the simple greenhouse and today, the conservatories which are attached to many homes in the country are elaborate and bear a striking resemblance to the former Victorian style English conservatoires.
For more info on conservatories visit the Glass and Glazing Federation.