FRIENDS,
This year, we celebrate our 30th year in business...
After 30 years of building these extraordinary structures together, Nancy and I look back and marvel at how far conservatories have come and the impact they have on the world – old and new
It is something about the architecture and technology that makes these great conservatories possible Thinking back to 18th and 19th-century conservatories, they were cutting-edge for their time People didn’t use steel in buildings like this; large panes of glass were unheard of And yet, they put it all together to create these breathtaking structures it was mind-boggling!
The really exciting part is that we’re still building these technologically advanced conservatories today We’re using steel and glass, but now with modern technology, computers, and sophisticated engineering, we can create amorphous shapes and tension cable structures. It’s really exciting to see and know that we are not just observers, but active participants in the journey
As we look ahead to our next 30 years, our passion for this craft only grows deeper By continuing to work alongside others who share our passion, we can push the boundaries of what conservatories can be melding art, nature, and technology to create sanctuaries where people can gather, grow, and make memories
Cheers to the next 30 years!
Sincerely,
Alan & Nancy
Featured Projects
Photos courtesy of Synergy Building
Award-Winning Conservatory Greenhouse
When the landscape architect for a garden project doodled a few shapes together on a page for a client, they didn’t know what to expect. But, starting with nothing more than that drawing of a square, a circle and a crooked rectangle, Tanglewood developed and refined an elegant, award-winning conservatory greenhouse The result was an unusual building, both simple and complex Its parts, an almost perfect cube, a domed tower and a crooked rectangular gallery complete a study in their formal relationships.
Simple in its detail, nothing distracts from the conversation between its parts. Not so much a “whole” which is greater than “the sum of its parts”, but a conversation between three equal members of a wellbehaved family It represents a group presentation The sensitively positioned pieces are not in competition with each other, an achievement much more difficult than it might seem
Working in close collaboration with the team of Landscape Architect Michael A. Gilkey, Inc. and Joe Jannopoulo of Synergy Building Corp.
Tanglewood led the Design Development process for the conservatory presenting options and alternatives of varying proportions and details. In the end, a unique project was created
The conservatory is one of three focal pieces in the Pagoda Garden project conceptually designed by Gilkey and Jannopoulo The project consists of different vignettes or “rooms” that present unique aspects of Asian design a grouping of authentic Chinese Pagodas, a one of a kind koi pond, and a greenhouse in the conservatory style.
As described recently in Garden Design, “…the clients originally requested a greenhouse, but during the design process the focus was changed to a true conservatory built over an enormous 40,000 gallon underground cistern The cistern collects rainwater that is piped into the irrigation This conservatory houses not only tropical plants but exquisite custom art work that offers a comfortable protected structure for intimate gatherings during inclement weather.”
Photos courtesy of Synergy Building
Many of the tropical plants will be moved to this naturalistic indoor environment for the winter months. “It’s kept at 68 to 74 degrees at all time,” says Gilkey. “We designed a green living wall to hide the air conditioning units, then added five foot square panels of etched painted glass ”
Project Team:
Builder: Synergy Building
Landscape Architect: Michael A. Gilkey Inc.
Design: Tanglewood Design Team, M. Selman
Location: Florida
For more information about custom conservatories or orangeries, talk with our team at 410-479-4700 ext 104 or explore the projects below for more inspiration
Custom Conservatories & Orangeries
An appreciation Of Conservatory Architecture
A Glimpse into The Conservatory: Gardens Under Glass Behind the Pages
Tanglewood founders Alan Stein and Nancy Virts have been inspired by the beauty of glass conservatories since their first trip to Europe After twenty-five years of research, travel, and photography, their passion culminated in their recent book, The Conservatory: Gardens Under Glass.
This book celebrates structure, light, and the lives of those who paved the way for these marvelous glass wonders.
“The book was written three times, each from a different perspective It is the culmination of twenty-five years of work ”
A Stein
Exploring conservatories worldwide became their favorite way to research projects at Tanglewood. When they discovered many historic conservatories had deteriorated or been dismantled, they set out to document them.
“We have to record these buildings There’s so many that have come and gone and been destroyed and just demolished ” -Nancy Virts
Studying historic conservatories from Vienna to San Francisco, the pair was inspired by the artistry of the construction and glasswork. Stein got the idea to write the book from a close friend and past client who dubbed him the “Dean of American Conservatories,” reflecting their devotion to preserving these architectural wonders.
The pair spent five additional years traveling to study the world’s most unique conservatories, orangeries, and greenhouses across Europe, Asia, and the United States Some locations were visited three or four times to capture the essence of each conservatory
In one instance while photographing, Alan recalls: “We had taken pictures, were three hours away from Stuttgart, and I said, ‘they're okay, but…’ so we turned around and went back!”
THE ORANGERY AT VERSAILLES Versailles, France, 1663
Photo courtesy of Alan Stein, President
The Orangery at Kensington Palace London, England, 1761
Photo courtesy of Alan Stein, President
The Dunmore Pineapple House Dunmore Park, Scotland, 1761
Photo courtesy of Alan Stein, President
The Palm House at Bicton Botanical Gardens United Kingdom, 1830
Photo courtesy of Alan Stein, President
Curvilinear Range Dublin, Ireland, 1869
Photo courtesy of Alan Stein, President
The Jewel Box Conservatory Forest Park, Saint Louis, Missouri
Photo Courtesy of Marcus Qwertyus
Parc André Citroën Conservatories
Paris, France, 1990
Photo courtesy of Alan Stein, President
The Amazon Spheres Seattle, Washington, 2018
Photo Courtesy of Alexandra Tran on Unsplash
The Davies Alpine House Conservatory Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, 2006
Photo courtesy of Alan Stein, President
Gardens by the Bay Conservatories Singapore, 2012
Photo Courtesy of Basile Morin - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,
Historic & Modern
Conservatories:
a
30 Year Love Affair
After 30 years, each new conservatory still feels like an adventure for our Founders Alan and Nancy…
It is not just about the architecture, but the entire experience the sense of discovery, the connection to history, and the marvel at what’s possible with modern technology Conservatories captivated our founders three decades ago with their rich heritage and the unique combination of glass architecture with vibrant plant life. Today, they are still just as enamored as the first time they stepped into a conservatory.
Reflecting on their journey, Alan shared what continues to fuel his passion after all these years:
“It is something about the architecture and technology that makes these great conservatories possible. Thinking back to 18th and 19th-century conservatories, they were cutting-edge for their time...
... People didn’t use steel in buildings like this; large panes of glass were unheard of. And yet, they put it all together to create these breathtaking structures it was mind-boggling! The really exciting part is that we ’ re still building these technologically advanced conservatories today. We’re using steel and glass, but now with modern technology, computers, and sophisticated engineering, we can create amorphous shapes and tension cable structures It’s really exciting to see and to be a part of that ”
Alan’s words capture the essence of the uniqueness of conservatories; no two are ever the same, and with every design, there’s an opportunity to reimagine what these magical spaces can become. Whether it’s an old conservatory or a new one, you walk inside and immediately feel a sense of awe. You can’t help but stop and ask yourself: “How did they do this? Who designed it? What kind of vision did it take to bring this to life?”
The adventure lies not only in the design but in the stories behind these structures. Nancy reflected on their travels over the years and noted combing through photographs of early construction workers, perched 20-30 feet in the air, building these massive glass structures: “It is somebody’s dream, ” she says. “Somebody dreamed of owning, building, and caring for the living plants within it. ”
That sense of passion, struggle, and vision is something we bring back and infuse into our own work at Tanglewood For Alan and Nancy, it is not just about observing the beauty of these conservatories; it is about being active participants in the journey They describe it as “ a never-ending adventure discovering the next flavor, experiencing something truly extraordinary Every new conservatory we visit is like stepping into another world one filled with light, life, and possibility The quiet serenity that greets you upon entering is deceiving, for within that calm lies a world of growth and energy The plants thrive in the sunlight that pours through the transparent walls, and though the air feels still, there’s a constant pulse of life surrounding you. ”
After 30 years, the magic of conservatories has not diminished for us In fact, the adventure continues with each new project, each new design, and every moment we spend contributing to the legacy of these extraordinary spaces
If you share our passion for beautiful glass architecture, we encourage you to get a copy of our book, The Conservatory: Gardens Under Glass, or contact a member of our team to learn about how to bring the magic of conservatories to your home!
Order The Conservatory: Gardens Under Glass
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