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Tanglewood Times FALL EDITION 2022

Table of Contents Note from the Founders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 On the Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Our Community. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 An appreciation Of Conservatory Architecture . . . . 28 Noteworthy Reads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

FRIENDS, “We love the uniqueness and the magic of conservatories. This type of architecture is so organic — you can build anything. That is what Nancy and I love about Tanglewood, being able to do what we love with the person we love, and getting up each day, working together to create something beautiful" — Alan Stein As we celebrate Tanglewood’s 28 years, we want to reflect on this time and thank you, our amazing team, partners, and clients for your trust in us. Without your support, we would not be where we are today. Bringing back one of our favorite stories, reminisce with us about how Tanglewood Conservatories came to be! Sincerely,

Alan & Nancy

A Beautiful Life… How Tanglewood Conservatories Came To Be Dedication: to devote wholly and earnestly, as to some person or purpose. That one simple word describes Tanglewood Conservatories and its ownership – Alan and Nancy, in one nicely wrapped package. Dedicated to building creatively-inspired structures that enhance and amplify the client’s life; dedicated to documenting and recreating the architectural details of conservatories from bygone eras; dedicated to maintaining a high level of quality and customer service; dedicated to being good stewards in business, environmentally and our community. And most of all, dedication to each other as partners in life and business. As the new marketing manager at Tanglewood I was thumbing through some old files and came across an intriguing article written many years ago as to how Tanglewood Conservatories began. Scanning through the article, I quickly realized that a special story was hiding in a file and now was perfect timing for a ‘revisit’. I hope you enjoy the Tanglewood journey as much as I. The Prelude to a Labor of Love… 06

It’s what happens when two people meet; fall instantly in love and everything changes. In the case of Alan Stein and Nancy Virts, falling in love didn’t just change their personal lives, but transformed the direction of their professional lives also. We are where we are today and who we are today because of one another. Alan & Nancy Alan had spent years in the housing industry, first as a carpenter, then an architect and then later as a sales professional. Nancy had recently found herself at a pivotal moment in life – a decision to forge ahead and devote the majority of her time and energy in continuing to build on her corporate management experience or regroup and focus on what fed her soul: her artwork. The artwork won and she soon took a job managing a home builder’s office, where most importantly, he provided a large loft for her art studio. Her artwork began to gain attention and she found herself being selected for juried shows. The two destined pathways converged and collided in

1991 when Alan walked into the builder’s office that Nancy was managing. It was love at first sight for me…for Nancy it took longer! The minute I met her, I knew this woman would change my life. – Alan Stein After waiting to call Alan back, they finally met for dinner – the meal lasted for over three hours and they never ate! That night, everything clicked. Looking back to 1985, Alan and his then-business partner ventured into their own contracting business that sold prefab sunrooms in the Washington, DC area. The partnership eventually proved disastrous. Alan and the partner decided to dissolve the partnership, but each taking an arm of the business – Alan the struggling sunroom portion while the partner took the more profitable contracting division. That decision would prove to work better for Alan in the long run even though the initial outlook was shaky at best.

Home from the U.K., Alan designed and built the conservatory and the client and Alan fell in love with the design. Soon thereafter, the second commission for a conservatory was harkening and Nancy realized this was not a side business, but the business. A year and a half later, Nancy joined Alan at Tanglewood; working together designing a new project at Tanglewood. Beautiful Life Amplified Tanglewood’s story began with a commitment to the history and tradition of the 19th century conservatories. From their first trip together to the U.K.,

Tanglewood Conservatories Is Conceived Although it seemed the sun was setting on Alan’s prefab sunroom business, Alan, ever the entrepreneurial sales guy, kept in contact with several builders in the industry. One approached Alan about creating a custom conservatory for a high-end home. “He handed me a picture of an English conservatory and asked if I could do that, an entrepreneur never says no, so I said sure and took the project on.” – Alan Stein At this point, Alan and Nancy were dating and evenings were spent discussing the project late into the night. Nancy, still working for the contractor, arranged a visit to England so they could tour manufacturers so that they could better understand the process of making quality conservatoires in the classic tradition. “It just captured my imagination”, Nancy said. “I became engrossed in the project he was working on.”

1992- Tanglewoods first project

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Alan and Nancy have become students and stewards of the tradition and they work hard to capture the intricacy and elegance in all of Tanglewood’s designs. Fast forward many years from that fateful day in 1991, to a life that has been amplified many times as a result of their business venture together. Building a successful business has enabled Alan and Nancy to experience awesome opportunities such as extensive travel, awards and honors and acquiring many new friends and family.

Many great friendships have been forged – close relationships are typically formed with clients over the course of a project. With no preconceived or predesigned models, a deep relationship is a natural outcome since Tanglewood works closely with each client. Discovering the client’s vision, likes and dislikes, the rhythm of their lifestyle, is paramount so that the conservatory will best meld with how they live and work. It’s hard not to become as close as family! Tanglewood has won numerous design and ‘best in business’ awards over the years. lan and Nancy have many memorable clients – but there 10

are some very special ones that leave a deep impression:One client, now a great friend, has worked with Tanglewood on three projects, with yet another very large project in the discovery phase. He is worldrenowned within the medical field and Nancy and Alan have been deeply touched by his nurturing persona. As Nancy remarks, ‘He truly was meant to be a doctor – I have rarely witnessed that level of compassion and caring he has, not only for his patients, but for everything around him – his family, employees, pets and even the plants in his conservatory.

His conservatory is essentially his living room and it quickly becomes the favorite room of all visitors!‘ He frequently entertains, holding classical music recitals and everyone comments as to how remarkable the acoustics are within the conservatory. Another beloved client has worked with Tanglewood seven times! He is a veterinarian and his wife, a nurse. Both had demanding schedules and came to Alan and Nancy to help them turn their home in a tranquil haven. She would work very closely with the Tanglewood team; designing many of the interior touches herself, such as a beautiful tile floor in a small conservatory off the master bedroom.

Their resulting home and gardens are now flush with beautiful light pouring in through custom-designed stained glass, sumptuous sapele wood and an overwhelming aura of peaceful calm. A favorite story that is told at Tanglewood involves a husband and wife who were building a new home. They had agreed that each would be able to create ‘their’ own room as part of the construction process. The wife chose to design and build a conservatory with Tanglewood while the husband created a very masculine billiards room complete with a copper ceiling. During the many discussions and design meetings, the husband remarked he was excited to show them ‘his’ room with the pool table and all the other ‘mancave’ accessories. After the conservatory was designed and built, Alan and Nancy went for a visit and they were met at the door by the husband inviting them in to visit his room – the conservatory! Alan and Nancy have yet to see the billiards room!

"I love the uniqueness and the magic of conservatories, we can build anything we can think of and that is what I love about this business. That and being able to do what we love with the person we love – getting up each day and working together to make something beautiful. – Alan Stein It is indeed a beautiful life.

Travel has also been a very integral component of the growing business. Alan and Nancy have taken numerous trips researching the history and architectural details of the great conservatories of the world – many times documenting them in photographs. As a result of their passion for the great conservatories, Alan has written a book and spent the last 15 years touring Europe to capture the best photos to tell the story. The book was published in October 2020. You can place an order for the book via the link below. The Conservatory: Gardens Under Glass

Businesses are typically conceived and built to generate cash and fill a gap in the marketplace. While Tanglewood certainly fills what was a large gap – there were no builders that were maintaining the historical accuracy of 19th century conservatories, and Tanglewood has certainly generated cash – what transcends this company above many others is the personal dedication that they exude. They are architects and artists; mentors to new engineers and architects – Alan sits on the board for a local architectural college, and active contributors within the community.

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On The Boards

Insight to a Fantastic Custom Conservatory Tanglewood is currently producing! Two years ago, Tanglewood met with a client who envisioned creating a unique focal piece on their property for hosting large gatherings out in the garden. In further conversations with the family, Gibson Homes, and Tom Bendt Interior Design, we uncovered the family’s love of Asian-inspired designs. With a beautiful art collection showcased throughout the home, they were missing that "wow factor" in the garden and the family knew exactly what to put there – a replica of the historic Chinese Pavilion at Cassan! The perfect piece to tie the gardens together, this gazebo would be a tranquil place where friends and family would gather, and when the parties were over, the family could enjoy sitting peacefully in the garden.

In working with Gibson Homes and Tom Bendt Interior Design there were many unique elements we could play on from the original Chinese pavilion design. After some deliberation, we decided on the following… 1. To make a true statement piece, we needed to replicate the main shapes and architectural details of the historic pavilion. From the decorative cut-outs in the open-air windows and doors to the unique shape of the two-tiered roof to even the large columns surrounding the main structure – every detail was meticulously planned. 2. The colors were another bold, but purposeful choice. The contrast between the dark and light colors makes this gazebo stand out amongst the beautiful green landscape.

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3. It may be difficult to see at a distance, but the mix of sapele mahogany, steel, and copper plays an important role in the overall feel of the space. As you walk through the gazebo, you first are welcomed by these grand, steel doors. Gliding the doors open to step inside, the decorated millwork immediately draws your eyes up to the ceiling. On the exterior, the subtle copper roof, gutters, and spire finial were the finishing touches that brought together the overall design. At the foot of the gazebo, notice how the front appears to be almost floating above the pond below. A fun design element, this was also a way for us to bring the gazebo away from the edge of the property line for additional privacy. With the gazebo sitting atop the hill, the pond is nestled within the valley below and to the left and right, Tom thought to also include additional seating for guests built-in into the landscape! Now with our team off the job site and the remaining touches by Gibson Homes and Tom are being completed, the family cannot wait to host their first gathering in the gardens!

Project Team: Builder: GIBSON HOMES LLC Designer: TOM BENDT INTERIOR DESIGN Design + Build: TANGLEWOOD CONSERVATORIES

For more information about garden follies and gazebos, talk with our team at 410-479-4700 ext.104 or explore the projects below for more inspiration!

Matching Conservatory + Gazebo

Follies = Outdoor Showers

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Beautiful Conservatories For The Artist In All Of Us One of the many things we love about our clients is their passion for the arts. Just like many of the great artists before us, throwing away the mold every day presents new challenges and opportunities to bring wondrous, original creations to the world. From cooking to crafting to showcasing unique art pieces, all of which come to life under this grand custom conservatory for our client on the East Coast of the U.S.. As part of a larger home renovation, the addition of this custom conservatory was special. Combining her love of cooking, crafting, and decorative art, she envisioned this room to be a place where she could house all of her favorite things in one location. At over 3 stories tall with an amazing view, we cannot wait to show you the final result! Here is an inside look at how things are progressing on the job site.

Beauty Lies In The Details Height was the biggest design stipulation for the conservatory as we had to design each level for different use. Her vision was to ascend from the main ground floor down into an area of the basement still open to the conservatory where she would set up to craft. She found this old antique window (pictured on the right) from a historic church and wanted to incorporate it as a prominent art feature as you walk down the stairs. Then, entering the main conservatory area at ground level, she made these beautiful stained glass panes to be showcased in the highlight windows of the main conservatory area! This space was to stand over 2 stories tall and be a place of seating and entertaining with a grand fireplace that doubles as a wood stove for cooking. As we further developed the design for this section, she expressed her love for curved features and so we decided to create a tiered effect for additional height and curve both the lower roof and upper cupola.

Lastly, there was to be a platform built at the 3rd story (with the basement level below) that extends directly from the kitchen to serve as a main dining area. Above, three decorative skylights allow additional light to shine through. You can see these unique features from the aerial view below.

"INTRODUCING MORE NATURAL LIGHT INTO A SPACE TRANSFORMS HOW WE EXPERIENCE A ROOM - FROM INCREASING OUR MOOD AND PRODUCTIVITY TO CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CALM AND REJUVENATING"

An Interplay Of Materials Now that we are further along with our installation you can see how beautifully the various materials come together and bring her overall vision to life. On the exterior, the combination of various textures and colors from the copper clad roof to the stone facade create a unique contrast accentuating important features of the conservatory. Inside, notice the intricate millwork - the curved rafters and grand decorative columns surrounding the conservatory play off the two stained glass art fixtures, creating a warm, inviting ambiance. Paired with the beautiful fireplace and delicious smells of a home cooked meal, it will be the main attraction! More To Come Our team is excited to share the final product with you once we finish on site. Stay tuned in the new year for the final reveal!

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Our Community

Cosmic Energy A photon of light meinders and Bends in a Sublime Harmony merely to elicit an Emotion of Identity... A transfiguration of Atoms... A connection to the very fabric of space and time of our Flora It beckons one to Enter a Sanctuary Of Symbiotic interplay of mother Nature And Human Expression Structures occupying our cosmic Continuity, No merely as Disparate entitles But Congruent forms with Natures Gifts, Architecture seeps into the crevices of our Mosaic without an affectation of Novelty, but an envirotating spirit of Subtleness... Imprinting an Emotion Into the Soul. Enter - Conservatory... where a Cosmic Energy seep's into one's Neuron, flowing Down Axons... transforming the Human Spirit into tranquility A. Medic

Imagine Looking at conservatories through the lens of an artists and civil engineer

This poem by a dear friend was exceptional and we had to share it with you. A. Medic is an engineer (and friend of ours) with over a decade of experience in the design and construction of civil infrastructure projects throughout the United States and Europe. Throughout his journey as an engineer, he continued to evolve his mind and character beyond the analytical methodologies of engineering works into the artform of poetry, in search of human connection to our being and our planet. Upon discovering the wonderous world of conservatories and reading our latest publication, The Conservatory: Gardens Under Glass, the symbiotic mural of structure and nature came to life through his poem – Cosmic Energy. According to Medic, one might say that poetry conveys themes that cannot be explicitly expressed, so too, does a conservatory exude an essence of connection to human and natural elements that can only be felt beyond the palpable. Hence, this semblance of unity between our craftwork and our surrounding flora is imagined – no, truly experienced – through a structure that does not merely occupy a space on our soil but elicits an emotion of warmth, belonging and harmony. The engineer witnessed structures come to life to serve human desires and, in the process, ventured into the abstract to discover that we are part of the universe; we are in this universe; and perhaps most importantly, that the universe is part of us. Imagined through this lens, the author notes that a conservatory exists into perpetuity, exhibiting an experience of life analogous to human development.

Conservatory architecture is a unique art form - and after reading Medic’s poem it is a great reminder the impact these beautiful structures have on those they serve. Have you been considering adding a conservatory to your home or office? Adding these wondrous structures to your home or office is exciting - but the process can be overwhelming to think about! Our team is here to help when you are ready to start thinking about bringing your vision to reality. We have resources available or talk with our team directly! Experience The Magic of Conservatories Over 200 years of beautiful architecture is captured in this library created in partnership with Tanglewood founders and the Conservatory Heritage Society. Many of these historic conservatories are still open to the public!

Conservatory Heritage Society

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An appreciation Of Conservatory Architecture

AN EVOLUTION OF DESIGN: HOW CONSERVATORIES HAVE CHANGED THEIR LOOK OVER THE LAST 3 CENTURIES Have you missed travelling abroad?

An Extraordinary Evolution of Conservatories

Our team just returned from Italy for the first time travelling abroad in almost two years and it had us reminiscing on our time studying the beautiful historic conservatories around the world. It is amazing to see how far conservatory architecture has come. From their exquisite details and materials to the connection they bring with the outdoors, they truly are a unique home addition. But they weren’t always that way!

When the idea for a “covered, well lit” space was first conceived in the 17th century, the overall goal of the structure was for royalty to have a place to sun their orange plants during the day and safely store them in the winter months. Oranges were a delicacy at this time because of their healing vitamin C properties. Since this space was designed for orange plants, these rooms became known as Orangeries. The Orangery is the first evolution of conservatory design before the introduction of glass. Perhaps the grandest of the early orangeries was designed for Louis XIV at Versailles in the 17th century.

The idea of a conservatory-like space has undergone numerous advancements since the 17th century, both in function and form, that have helped them transform into the dreamy spaces they are today. Their advancements in materials, technology, and architecture are inspired – paving the way for even more unique design possibilities as we evolve!

Opulent and bold, the Orangery at Versailles, was designed by André Le Notre with no glass, arched doorways, arched windows, expansive grounds, and plenty of room to move the plants about – the space is entirely open air. The exterior walls are ornately decorated to reflect its grandeur.

As the neoclassical style rose to popularity in Europe, so did the orangeries. The Bowood Conservatory was one of the first examples of neoclassicism and is a far cry from the open air, park-like layout of the Orangery at Versailles. The orangery was built using stone with holes left open for windows, rather than creating the glass first as it is done today. Years later, with advancements in new building materials, Castle Ashby was designed and built with soaring glazed ceilings and large window openings set between narrow columns of stone. Alton Towers was one of the first orangeries to include cast iron and glass, funneling the light into the space even more beautifully than before. These spaces transitioned from housing just fruit trees to containing all types of plants thanks to the addition of glass panes. From Orangeries to Conservatories: A Pivotal Transition in Conservatory Architecture With greater availability of glass and other building materials came more room for experimentation. Syon Park was constructed in the early 1800s and built of gunmetal, bath stone, and a 38-foot diameter glass dome. The large structure was more transparent than we previously saw in orangeries, thanks to the ability to have glass produced in larger sheets. Glass could finally encompass the whole ceiling and bring in more natural light than ever. Notice in its structure the balance of orangery style merging with a more transparent, conservatory look. It is almost like they started to design it as a traditional orangery and then changed directions! The Belfast Conservatory was another revolutionary glass structure that featured a huge amount of seemingly curved glass panes wrapped around the curvy cast-iron structure. This curvilinear structure was also historically experimented with at Kew Gardens. It was innovative for its use of wrought iron and an impressive 66 foot-tall dome that can house a palm tree. Another notable change is their availability to the public! From residing in the private homes of the wealthy, as botanic gardens began adopting these conservatory structures it allowed entire populations to benefit from their grand displays.

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People wanted to be close to nature and these botanic gardens gave people the opportunity to get away from city life and stroll amongst the gardens. The structures continued to advance as the technology allowed. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II Conservatory, built in 1877, has large arched glass windows over the hallway which transitions into a grand glass paneled double dome ceiling. With a 57-foot-tall octagonal dome and two vaulted arcades, the conservatory has an Italian flair. The supports each have intricate designs spanning the length as well. As railroad systems became more abundant, the easier parts could be imported to complete complex projects like this. As time progressed and people’s desires to be closer to the natural world grew stronger, conservatories changed from garden spaces for the nobility and the very wealthy, to a place of relaxation reserved for private estates around the world. The White House even added a wood-framed conservatory to its property in 1857 at the suggestion of former President James Buchanan’s niece. Inside, fresh flowers and fruit were grown and used for the house. As it got easier to build conservatories, private estates began to experiment more with the luxury structure. Ever the trendsetter, Mark Twain had a conservatory built for his Connecticut home in 1874. It had a fountain inside and housed his tropical plants. Similarly private yet grand, the Biltmore Conservatory was built for the wealthy Vanderbilt family in 1895. It was a luxury to have your own private conservatory!

Advancing into the 21st century, modern styles have begun to shine through as new technologies allow for more advancements in how structure pieces are made. Glass spheres make up the corporate headquarters for Amazon in Seattle, Washington. A complex design of geometric and irregular glass shapes creates a modern, futuristic design. The spherical design is intended to help employees connect with nature better. With new technologies, energy-efficient systems are keeping the conservatory more temperate than ever. The world of conservatories is always progressing. From starting as open-air orangeries, run by servants, to glass spherical, environmentally-friendly conservatory office spaces, there are endless possibilities to integrate conservatories into our lifestyle. Learn more about historical conservatories around the world by visiting our Conservatory Heritage Society library or purchasing our book, “The Conservatory: Gardens Under Glass.”!

The Conservatory Heritage Society Library

The Conservatory: Gardens under glass

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Noteworthy Reads

CUSTOM GREENHOUSES: COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS UNCOVERED!

Fall Activites at public conservatories