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Q & A
With Alan Stein, Founder
Tell me about the origins of the conservatory
- or the orangerie as it was once called.
Conservatories have a rich history, going back to the days when the wealthy
families of Victorian Europe would travel the world and bring back specimens
of plants and trees - lemon and orange trees were commonly brought back, as
were pineapple trees and specimens of rare plants and seedlings from the Mediterranean,
West Indies and India. They needed warm climates to survive the colder months,
so the idea of a glass-enclosed conservatory was developed.
Worldwide, where is the conservatory
most popular?
The early days of the conservatory began in Europe - primarily in Europe. That
is where you'll find the majority of conservatories today, either renovations
of existing glasshouses or construction of new conservatories. I've found that
conservatories are to England what screen porches and decks are here in the
U.S.
What about residential conservatories
in the U.S.?
In the U.S., conservatories began a slow revival in the 1970s - around the
time insulated glass became available - and are now beginning to increase in
popularity. In the 70s and 80s some manufacturers needed to standardize their
product to stay in business and turned to pre-fabricated sunrooms as their
main product. On the higher end, custom-designed and custom made conservatories
such as the ones we create at Tanglewood started to gain in popularity in the
past 10 years. In fact, more custom conservatories are being built in the U.S.
than any other country, largely because Americans have the money and the climate
is conducive.
What are some of the trends you are
seeing in conservatories?
They are certainly gaining in popularity and homeowners are asking for larger
spaces compared to the conservatories designed 10 years ago. A conservatory
off the kitchen is the most popular location in the house.
What are people doing with their conservatories?
For what purpose are they built?
Our clients initially create their conservatories for a specific purpose -
as a swimming pool room or a music room, for example - but it quickly becomes
the room in the house where they spend most of their time, and more of our
clients are incorporating plants and gardens, sort of a return to the origin
of the conservatory. Our business is divided evenly between conservatories
designed to blend with existing homes and conservatories that are part of the
plans for a new home construction.
What goes into the design of a conservatory?
How long does it take to complete?
A great conservatory design begins with the client - we listen to their desires,
ideas feelings and needs. While working together, the client begins to see
their dreams become reality as the architectural process unfolds and the conservatory
becomes uniquely theirs. Each conservatory starts with a clean sheet of paper
and fresh ideas; we don't offer standard 'modules' or 'kits.' Design to completion
typically takes 9 to 12 months.
How difficult is it to create a structure
that seems to be made primarily of glass?
It begins with the fact that no two Tanglewood conservatories are alike - there
is no standard formula, so while difficult, it is a challenge that we look
forward to every day. The key to the design is structural engineering - beginning
with how to support the roof with all the glass that goes into a conservatory.
Also, everything in a well-designed conservatory is hidden, such as electrical
wiring, heating and air conditioning ductwork, weather-stripping and flashing.
What about special materials and technologies
used to create your conservatories?
We are committed to making the best conservatories in the world, and that means
using the finest products available, such as Honduras Mahogany - the highest
grade available. If we can't purchase the level of quality we're looking for,
our craftsmen will make it right here in our plant in Denton, Maryland. For
example, rather than buy windows and doors, we now make them. Our craftsmen
create hardware that is authentic to the period but easy to operate and that
opens and closes doors and windows properly. Soon we will be installing a special
paint system that is being imported from Italy as well as making our own glass.
Tell me about your background and
the origins of Tanglewood Conservatories.
I like to work with my hands, and I'm a woodworker from way back. I did carpentry
and built houses before I took up a career in traditional architecture. I first
became enamored with these glass wonders while studying and traveling abroad.
No other U.S.-based company built conservatories with this level of quality
- they are mostly in Great Britain - so I founded Tanglewood Conservatories
with the goal of combining the graceful romanticism of traditional Nineteenth
Century glass architecture with state-of-the-art technology and master craftsmanship.
How many employees do you have and
what is their expertise?
We have 25 employees here on Maryland's Eastern Shore. This is a proud, self-reliant
workforce who can work wood with style. Their kin built wood ships and oystering
boats - skipjacks - for use on the Chesapeake Bay for over a hundred years.
In a sense then, the team was waiting for Tanglewood to arrive when we relocated
from the Washington D.C. area in 1997. Every conservatory is different. It's
really a challenge. I realize now that working for Tanglewood gives these men
and women the opportunity to bring unique and challenging creations to life.
How does the process begin?
With each conservatory project tailored to its client's
site, imagination and architecture, we 'throw away
the mold' every day. We begin by scheduling a visit
to the client's home to listen and learn about their
lifestyle and passions. From that, we move to the blueprint
stage where highly detailed drawings of a one-of-a-kind
conservatory are made.
What is the final step in the process?
Our production team completely pre-builds
each conservatory in our shop. Once it is complete, the
team disassembles and ships it to the client's home via
'air-ride' suspension trucks. Carefully packed and wrapped
to avoid damage, the conservatory travels nonstop to
the site under lock and key. We maintain a team of skilled
craftsmen who travel worldwide to install and service
our conservatories. Some areas have a local Tanglewood
representative and installation team. With complex projects,
craftsmen from our production facility themselves often
join the installation team.
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