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The Princess of Wales Conservatory - design

The design challenge for
the Princess of Wales Conservatory

The design challenge for this major new glasshouse at Kew was both technical and aesthetic. Technically, it had to replace no fewer than 26 elderly glasshouses with one advanced and sophisticated building. Aesthetically, the site was exceptionally sensitive, being close to existing works of the past 'greats'; Burton's Palm House and Chambers' Orangery.

The keynote for the design was the highest possible energy efficiency allied to the lowest possible maintenance costs. It is a simple fact of life that the high humidity and temperatures needed to support life for tropical plants mean a slow death for inappropriate buildings.

With its stepped and angled glass construction, without sidewalls and with most of its space below ground, the conservatory is a most effective collector of solar energy. The volume is relatively low in relation to its floor area so that temperatures within the individual zones may be altered quickly.

Computer control

Ten different environments, ranging from the extreme temperatures of desert to the suffocatingly moist heat of mangrove swamps, are controlled by computer to provide different levels of heat, humidity and light.

The technology involved is quite awesome. Sensors on walls and in beds report exact environmental conditions to the computer, which commands heat to flow, ventilation to open, or mists to spray to increase humidity.

The underground boiler room is a temple to today's technology. Also beneath the conservatory, there are two 227,000 litre (50,000 gallon) storage tanks for rainwater collected from the roof slopes and used, after filtration and ultraviolet treatment, for irrigation and replenishment of the ponds.

Form follows function

Above all, the Princess of Wales Conservatory looks stunning. The old adage that 'form follows function' is as perfectly demonstrated today as it was some 160 years ago in Burton's day. It looks absolutely in place in its surroundings, even in such imposing company. It is beautifully landscaped, too, blending into the Rock and Woodland Gardens to the east and south and surrounded by the mature trees of the Arboretum to the north and west.

Designed for an estimated life span of 100 years, it is interesting to speculate if the Princess of Wales Conservatory will be as compelling in its future old age as Burton's creations are today. Judging from the crowds, the comments and the awards, the omens seem good.

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