Guest Blogger: An Orangery – A Fruitful Addition to Your Home

Guest Blog #124, Entry #590, July 17, 2011

Not to be confused with a conservatory, an orangery is usually constructed using stone or brick pillars to support the glazed roof and is then tailored with large voluminous windows between the pillars to allow the natural light to burst through while giving panoramic views.

Orangeries were frequently found in the estates of the rich from the 17^th century, there were seen as a symbol of high society. Although the orangeries were used to grow fruits many would often contain luxury comforts such as water fountains, grottos and of course an area in which to entertain guests. As the years passed the orangeries became less of a greenhouse and more of a luxury conservatory due to influence from garden designers and architects.

The construction of Orangeries first became popular after the end of the Dutch War of Independence in 1648. The French, Germans and Dutch were among the first people to start this trend due to their demand of orange trees and banana plants. Orangeries in their infancy were not all that well thought out or as lavish as the orangeries we see today, the vast majority had no heating and could only be kept warm with an open fire.

Orangeries today from the outside look very similar to most conservatories, except that an orangery will have a more generous look. In most orangery builds it is common to have a large decoration running around the top of the orangery, known as a pelmet.

Similar to traditional conservatory designs, orangeries usually incorporate large French doors that provide easy access to the outside space. However, over the last couple of years there has been huge increase in the demand for bi-folding doors. The adoption of bi-folding doors means that every side of an orangery can be opened up to the elements, the indoor and outdoor environment seamlessly integrate.

While the inner workings of Orangeries have improved since they were first used over four hundred years ago the traditional aesthetics are still very popular among home owners. If you are looking for more than just creating extra space and instead are looking to create an environment which enriches and inspires then an Orangery is certainly a worthwhile investment.

Jon Davy is a garden design consultant living in the London, United Kingdom. With over 15 years’ experience working at Anglian Home Improvements.

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