If you’re looking to extend your home, create additional living space and improve the value of your property, you may want to consider installing a conservatory or orangery. While there are many factors to consider when planning such an extension, it’s always a good idea to do some research beforehand in order to get inspired.
Today, we’re therefore going to look at some of the most remarkable conservatories and orangeries found in Europe. Hopefully, this will help to spark some ideas for how you want your extension to look!
1 – The Orangery at Versailles (Versailles, France)
This historical orangery was erected in the 17th Century and originally housed 3000 orange trees belonging to King Louis XIV. The most prominent feature of the garden at the Palace of Versailles, this luxurious orangery is over 150 meters long and is still home to an abundance of orange, pomegranate, and lemon trees.
2 – Barbican Conservatory (London, UK)
Located in the heart of London, Barbican Conservatory enables visitors to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and enter a calm sanctuary, complete with exotic fish and over 2000 species of tropical plants and trees. This conservatory is the perfect place to relax after seeing a theatre production or art exhibition in the same building.
3 – Eden Project (Cornwall, UK)
While this particular conservatory is probably more useful to inspire a sci-fi film script rather than a house extension, the Eden Project is simply too remarkable to omit from this list!
With a multitude of different domes, each with their own ecosystem, it can feel as if you are travelling from one side of the world to another by visiting the domes in quick succession. Each dome has its own native plant life and even temperature, creating a truly immersive experience.
4 – Schönbrunn Palace Orangery (Vienna, Austria)
In the 16th Century, widowed Empress Wilhelmine Amalie had this orangery erected to protect her orange plants from the bitter Austrian winter. Designed by prominent architect Nicolò Pacassi, the orangery was also home to many opulent festivities hosted by the Austrian royal family.
To this day, the back of the orangery is still home to a number of orange trees, while the front has been renovated and is now used as a concert hall.
5 – Kensington Palace Orangery (London, UK)
Erected in the early 18th Century as a location for festivities under the reign of Queen Anne, this stunning red brick orangery is now a place to relax and get a bite to eat after exploring the beautiful garden at Kensington Palace. Access is now free of charge and provides some great insights into the lives of the royals from a foregone era.
6 – The Orangery of the Botanical Gardens (Uppsala, Sweden)
As with the some of the aforementioned orangeries, the Orangery of the Botanical Gardens is still used for providing shelter to citrus plants, just as it was several hundred years ago.
Today, the orangery is famous for its Linnanen laurel trees, but is also home to an extensive cactus collection and traditional hothouse plants, including figs, olives and agaves. During the summer, the plants are moved outside and the orangery becomes the location for exhibitions, concerts and other festivities.
At Unicorn Windows, we provide a range of both conservatories and orangeries. If you’re struggling to decide which conservatory or orangery is the right choice for you, please don’t hesitate to get in contact for a free consultation!