Orangeries and Sunrooms: A History

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Orangeries and Sunrooms: A History

Posted On : Nov-15-2011 | seen (930) times | Article Word Count : 545 |

Orangeries have a long and fascinating history. Originally, they were used to grow exotic fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, bananas and pomegranates. Nowadays, they are popular as a way of creating a sunroom with plenty of light and heat, but which also feels like an integrated part of the house.

Orangeries are an attractive and effective way of bringing more light into your house while also providing you with somewhere that is sturdy and warm enough to serve as comfortable living space. Many people are confused as to the exact difference between an orangery and a conservatory; understandable, as both are commonly referred to as “sunrooms”. The difference is subtle, but easy to understand once you know it. Whereas a conservatory has walls made entirely (or at least predominantly) of glass, the walls of an orangery are made of stone or hardwood: although they will still prominently feature large windows and possibly a skylight.

When the orangery first appeared in the sixteenth century, its purpose was to provide a warm, but light-filled environment in which merchants could grow fruit and exotic vegetables during the harsh winters of northern Europe. The orangery didn’t truly come into fashion until the seventeenth century, when merchants in countries such as France, Germany and the Netherlands began importing large numbers of exotic plants, such as banana plants, pomegranates and orange trees - hence the name - for their beauty and scent.

The earliest orangeries were wooden shacks, sometimes covered with a tarpaulin, designed purely for practical rather than aesthetic reasons. As time went on, however, orangeries increasingly came to be viewed as a symbol of wealth and opulence. After all, the fruits grown within them were expensive fare and so their cultivation was generally only feasible by those who could afford a sizeable outlay. And, of course, the moment something becomes a fashion symbol is the moment it begins to become ever more extravagant. Soon, vast orangeries were being constructed in the grounds of stately homes across Europe.

It was not always an easy task. Growing plants inside is a difficult task at the best of times and in the days before reliable central heating or double glazing, many owners found it difficult to balance sufficient levels of heat and light in their orangery. An orangery is the oldest surviving structure at London’s magnificent Kensington Palace. However, even the great architect Sir William Chambers was not infallible and the light levels below the building’s solid roof made the cultivation of plants near impossible. This rather nice gallery building is today used as a restaurant; emblematic perhaps of the changing role of the orangery in our culture.

The solid roof was presumably in an effort to keep the heat in. Poor insulation was a common problem amongst earlier orangeries. In some cases open fires were necessary to provide sufficient levels of warmth. In later years, as technology improved, under floor heating made it easier to keep the plants warm. Opening windows allowed for the regulation of heat; obviously, oranges and the like required plenty of heat to grow, but all that glass could lead to the orangery becoming too hot for more delicate plants in the height of summer.

Nowadays, orangeries are used almost exclusively as sunrooms. They offer a warmth and security which, even in these days of double glazing, some find lacking in conservatories. Their thick walls and open windows offer light and views, while feeling like an integrated part of the house, rather than something that has simply been stuck on the end.

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<h1>Orangeries and Sunrooms: A History</h1> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_Kai Perry.aspx'>Kai Perry</a> Orangeries are an attractive and effective way of bringing more light into your house while also providing you with somewhere that is sturdy and warm enough to serve as comfortable living space. Many people are confused as to the exact difference between an orangery and a conservatory; understandable, as both are commonly referred to as “sunrooms”. The difference is subtle, but easy to understand once you know it. Whereas a conservatory has walls made entirely (or at least predominantly) of glass, the walls of an orangery are made of stone or hardwood: although they will still prominently feature large windows and possibly a skylight.

When the orangery first appeared in the sixteenth century, its purpose was to provide a warm, but light-filled environment in which merchants could grow fruit and exotic vegetables during the harsh winters of northern Europe. The orangery didn’t truly come into fashion until the seventeenth century, when merchants in countries such as France, Germany and the Netherlands began importing large numbers of exotic plants, such as banana plants, pomegranates and orange trees - hence the name - for their beauty and scent.

The earliest orangeries were wooden shacks, sometimes covered with a tarpaulin, designed purely for practical rather than aesthetic reasons. As time went on, however, orangeries increasingly came to be viewed as a symbol of wealth and opulence. After all, the fruits grown within them were expensive fare and so their cultivation was generally only feasible by those who could afford a sizeable outlay. And, of course, the moment something becomes a fashion symbol is the moment it begins to become ever more extravagant. Soon, vast orangeries were being constructed in the grounds of stately homes across Europe.

It was not always an easy task. Growing plants inside is a difficult task at the best of times and in the days before reliable central heating or double glazing, many owners found it difficult to balance sufficient levels of heat and light in their orangery. An orangery is the oldest surviving structure at London’s magnificent Kensington Palace. However, even the great architect Sir William Chambers was not infallible and the light levels below the building’s solid roof made the cultivation of plants near impossible. This rather nice gallery building is today used as a restaurant; emblematic perhaps of the changing role of the orangery in our culture.

The solid roof was presumably in an effort to keep the heat in. Poor insulation was a common problem amongst earlier orangeries. In some cases open fires were necessary to provide sufficient levels of warmth. In later years, as technology improved, under floor heating made it easier to keep the plants warm. Opening windows allowed for the regulation of heat; obviously, oranges and the like required plenty of heat to grow, but all that glass could lead to the orangery becoming too hot for more delicate plants in the height of summer.

Nowadays, orangeries are used almost exclusively as sunrooms. They offer a warmth and security which, even in these days of double glazing, some find lacking in conservatories. Their thick walls and open windows offer light and views, while feeling like an integrated part of the house, rather than something that has simply been stuck on the end.About the Author: Need an extra room with plenty of light? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.conservatoryquoteonline.com/index_01.asp">Conservatory Quote Online</a> can help design your perfect hardwood orangery or sunroom.

For more information about <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.conservatoryquoteonline.com/Hardwood_Conservatories.asp">Orangeries and Sunrooms</a>, visit: www.conservatoryquoteonline.com Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Orangeries-and-Sunrooms-A-History_104735.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Orangeries and Sunrooms: A History_104735.aspx</a>

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Orangeries and Sunrooms: A History_104735.aspx

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Need an extra room with plenty of light? Conservatory Quote Online can help design your perfect hardwood orangery or sunroom.

For more information about Orangeries and Sunrooms, visit: www.conservatoryquoteonline.com

Keywords : orangery, sunroom, hardwood, conservatory,

Category : Home and Family : Interior Design

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