Why Conservatories Are No Longer The Only Sunny Room In The Home
Why Conservatories Are No Longer The Only Sunny Room In The Home
It does not seem so long ago that a conservatory was the only extension to a house that captured the sun. It still embodies what is luxurious about home life, the additional room that is casual yet grand and the status symbol that so many of us aspire to having. However, its desirability has been matched by the orangery, a building that boasts a permanency and seems to bring the house into the sun rather than the sun into the house.
At first glance, there seems to be little difference between conservatories and orangeries. Both are spacious and airy, and both have an abundance of windows with which to let in a greater amount of daylight. At a closer inspection, however, there are some to be noted. The former has a greater penchant for glass, the chief characteristic that has attracted generations of home owners. They are build with bright, light materials with a decided focus on light, and can be quite elaborately designed in Victorian and Edwardian styles.
The latter, however, focuses less on windows and more on sturdier aspects of the construction. So, while a significant amount of space is dedicated to letting in sunlight, the roof can have more timber and beams in its design, corner pillars can be made of brick, and a low wall may surround the perimeter of the room, into which the windows are set. Overall, it looks more to be a part of the main house than a fanciful addition.
The reason for this difference relates to its history. Originally, exotic fruit and rare plants were housed in structures that were specifically built to care for them. Since these plants and fruit trees had been gathered from more tropical climates around the world, the retention of heat within the building was imperative. And having spread from the Mediterranean, the challenge of retaining sufficient heat became quite acute.
The most efficient answer was glass, which could increase the air temperature by way of its ability to concentrate sunlight coming through it, and the larger the surface area of glass, the better the conditions were inside for the plants. The early versions married glass with timber and stone, both materials that served to retain the heat.
Today, of course, these buildings are used for leisure, whiling away sunny Sunday afternoons or evening coffee with friends and family. In fact, they have little to do with plants and fruit and more to do with lifestyle. They serve as another room in the home, taking full advantage of whatever sunlight is available. When the weather is poor, the homely sense of the space ensures that it is still enjoyable, even if it means having little more to do than watching the rain.
However, their structure has retained the wholesome, earthiness of their original form, with oak and hardwood frames amongst the most popular materials with which to construct them. Brick work too is a key feature, while modern designs feature a host of influences from more contemporary sources.
Companies that construct orangeries offer the highest quality services and often include planning and design consultation as part of it, so as to walk clients through the possibilities. If a home is listed then there can be several conservation issues to be addressed before planning permission can be given. However, often this relates to the materials to be used, as well as the style of the structure, and both of these can be tailored to suit the conditions laid down by the relevant local authority.
As time goes by, conservatories have evolved and are now seen an extensive variety of styles and designs. The classic wrought iron framework, for example, is being replaced by solid hardwood frames. Also, bifolding doors have become increasingly common, as they allow greater access outside in summer and more security from the elements in winter.
Still, an orangery offers a quality of life that is idyllic in nature and luxurious in appeal. For many, its main attraction lies in its simple comfort, but the quality of its construction provides an extra sense of security. A conservatory may be less robust in its design, of course, but it offers just as much luxury and tranquillity, a fact that ensures that both will remain popular in the future, even if individuals might have their particular preference.
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