The curved glass roof of this classic old-world greenhouse is constructed
using a century-old technique of overlapping small panes of glass. The
elegant effect could not have otherwise been accomplished.
A
superb rendition of the iconic Victorian-era
conservatory, the design of this fully functional
greenhouse is based upon the renowned
Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco's
Golden Gate Park. The owners became enamored
of the historic structure and wanted to
recreate a greenhouse that would be true to its
historic heritage.
When the owners first met with Tanglewood,
they presented books with images of the type
of timeless old-world-style greenhouse they
sought to bring to life. Discussions ensued
about
Tanglewood's story begins
with a commitment to the
history and tradition of
the nineteenth-century
conservatory. As students
of this tradition, we seek to
capture its intricacy and
elegance in all our designs.
the feasibility of the undertaking. Questions
about the relative merits of building in
steel versus wood, about the use of single
glazing versus insulated glass, about what types of mechanical systems
should be used, were all thoroughly explored.
The owners were very clear. The authenticity of the conservatory was to be
paramount - in every detail - and the structure would need to function as a
complete working greenhouse as well. The owner, devoted to her love of
gardening, would be spending many, many
hours inside the room. The challenging questions seemed to be:
1) could a modern-made building be
designed and built so that it truly captured the essence of the old-world
style they sought? 2) Could the requirements of a fully functional greenhouse environment
be incorporated into the old-world conservatory structure they envisioned?
For Tanglewood's creative designers, no more captivating or challenging opportunity could
have been presented. After much work, the questions were answered and the design
evolved until the entire team was satisfied.
As production progressed, owners, architects and contractor visited Tanglewood's facility
and gained a firsthand sense of the experience, capabilities and character of the
Tanglewood team.
