This year, we celebrate our 30th year in business...
Raising our glasses in celebration of Tanglewood’s 30th year in business, we are immersed in a reflective moment, appreciating the unique opportunities, deep connections, and fascinating new projects we have collaborated on When Nancy and I first conceived the idea of Tanglewood, our vision was not mass production, but artistic craftsmanship; to find the unique synthesis of the client’s dreams, hopes, and desires, the architecture of their home, and the creativity and expertise that we bring to the table to design their dream conservatory
We believe with great architecture, you can change how people live their lives and experience their homes. The unique concept of living beneath glass is an experience far beyond being able to garden year-round These rooms become our client’s most beloved rooms in their homes, often finding themselves gravitating to the conservatory to be surrounded by the natural world and in a space designed uniquely for them. There is no other room like a conservatory in the world.
As we express our heartfelt thanks for the many years in business, we stand poised at the threshold of new opportunities, eager to continue collaborating with our community to design and manufacture some of the most unique conservatories in the world. Our team is excited to continue this journey, forging new partnerships and embarking on new adventures With your continued support, the next 30 years will be even more extraordinary than the last!
Sincerely,
Alan & Nancy
Art You Can Live In
Art You Can Live In:
Creating A Biltmore-Inspired Conservatory Glass Roof
Imagine... living in your favorite historic conservatory.
The fun thing about designing beautiful glass conservatories is you are only limited to your imagination. Often we find our clients are inspired by old-world conservatories or ones they have visited while traveling abroad and seek to recreate the magic of that experience on their estate To do so, it is important to partner with a firm that understands the true capabilities of conservatories and their heritage
A few years ago we worked with a family who admired the architecture of the Biltmore Estate; more specifically, the beautiful wood conservatory attached to the main house. If you have never visited the estate, we recommend adding this one to your bucket list!
DURING THE LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY IN THE UNITED STATES, WHILE PUBLIC CONSERVATORIES MIGHT HAVE BEEN FUNDED AND ENDOWED BY PHILANTHROPISTS, FASHIONABLE AMERICAN FAMILIES WANTED PRIVATE GLASSHOUSES ON THEIR ESTATES.
When George Washington Vanderbilt II first visited Asheville, NC in the late 1800s, he fell in love with the rustic mountain beauty and decided to build this summer home; an English-style country estate far from the bustle of New York City life Recognized as the largest privately held house in the United States, comprising 250 rooms covering 178,926 square feet, the Biltmore Estate took 6 years to build
It was completed in 1895 under the direction of Architect Richard Morris Hunt. Hunt carefully designed the conservatory to be a showpiece. With timber trusses, a glass roof, and decorative wood beams extending down the walls, the ceiling covering the sunken garden became a grand art fixture that bathed the palms and flowering shrubs below in sunlight.
Our clients also fell in love with these characteristics and more They wanted to create a room bathed in natural sunlight with beautiful, architectural detailing that made a statement when you walked in
Photo Credit: Library of congress, Highsmith, Carol M , 1946- Carol M Highsmith Archive
Watch as Founder Alan Stein walks you through how Tanglewood approached the design and build of this beautiful Biltmore-inspired Conservatory Glass Roof!
For more inspired glass conservatory roofs or additions, visit our Custom Skylights, Domes, and Cupolas section or contact our team to explore adding a unique glass addition to your home!
View More Custom SKylights, Domes, and Cupolas
Project Showcase:
Modern Expression of a Timeless Craft
OVERLOOKING THE COAST of the Pacific Northwest, this steel and glass conservatory is partially buried in the landscape, encloses a swimming pool, and is Zen-like in its simplicity
The vision for this custom steel pool enclosure originated with the owners and stemmed from their fascination with early glasshouse architecture, which utilized and pushed the boundaries of nineteenthcentury engineering.
The owners wished to pay homage to those Victorianera marvels; the first buildings to use new materials made available by the Industrial Revolution in Europe. Fanciful, idealistic, and energetic, those ambitious conservatories serve as inspiration now in a time similarly fixed on advanced technologies
AS CONSERVATORY SPECIALISTS, WE USE ALL THAT TECHNOLOGY CAN ACHIEVE AND LOOK FORWARD TO ALL IT PROMISES. BUT TANGLEWOOD DESIGNS ALSO LOOK BACK TO AN ERA THAT PARALLELS OUR OWN ONE OF IMAGINATION AND POSSIBILITY, BEAUTY, GRACE, AND STYLE
The resulting design of this custom steel pool enclosure, recalls the steel exoskeleton utilized at the Schönbrunn Palace palm house in Vienna. The articulated trusses suspend a delicate glass skin underneath and allow the smooth uninterrupted interior surface to reflect the meditative space inside.
DESIGN: Tanglewood Design Team, M Selman, Sr Designer
The Secluded Steel Pool Enclosure
ON THE BOARDS THIS SUMMER
Behind every great design idea is a team dedicated to bringing that vision to reality. 2024 has a lot in store for the Tanglewood team! In the workshop, our craftsmen pour their hearts into each project from the traditional, custom wood conservatories to the sleek, modern steel and glass greenhouses.
Our most recent projects with Archer & Buchannan Architecture and Zaveta Custom Homes are beginning to take shape on-site! One is a beautiful custom greenhouse and the other is a secluded, copper and mahogany conservatory This summer we also visited an old project of ours as the new owners are doing a major renovation on the house! The beautiful steel pool enclosure encloses over 2,000 square feet and includes a beautiful cascading pool that can be seen from the living space below
We are excited to share with you the final results once they are completed later this year!
A Collabration with Zaveta Custom Homes
An appreciation Of Conservatory Architecture
Your Guide To Conservatory Design:
An Archival Collection of over 60 historic conservatories and counting!
Imagine… building a glass room over 150 years ago...
Alan Stein and Nancy Virts, founders of Tanglewood Conservatories, have been inspired by conservatory architecture for as long as they can remember They are tremendous fans of the old-world conservatories These rooms are marvels of their time as they were developed at the height of the industrial revolution. As new construction capabilities were developing, coupled with the Victorian idea of collecting plants, their two worlds collided and gave us the basis for this beautiful style of hi
With backgrounds in art, architecture and construction, it was no wonder this dynamic duo has taken their passions from studying conservatories to designing and fabricating them worldwide!
Over the last 30 years, Alan and Nancy have catalogued more than 60 architectural legends worldwide. A few years ago, they partnered with the Conservatory Heritage Society to develop an extensive archive library to be a resource for people to expand their knowledge of conservatory design and inspire admirers to visit and support the ones still standing today.
The Conservatory Heritage Society continues to develop the archive and add new conservatories each year to grow the collection to educate the world about the importance of these great glasshouses and work to preserve their existence in our world today.
View The Archive
The Conservatory at Syon Park
From Innovation to Inspiration:
Steel Conservatories Appear in the 19th Century
What are some of the most iconic steel conservatories that came out of the 19th Century?
In the heart of the 19th century, amidst an era of burgeoning industrialization and architectural innovation, advancements in industrial processes opened the doors for young, visionary architects and engineers to break the mold of traditional conservatory design By now, conservatories were commonplace among elaborately designed homes of those who could afford them; serving as symbols of wealth and status to showcase their botanical collections.
But as industry boomed, cities became overwhelmed with factories and housing for their workers. Soon, conservatories became more than a status of wealth, but a place of refuge to reconnect with nature and escape harsh city conditions
Architects such as Sir Charles Lanyon, John Claudius Loudin, Richard Turner, and Sir Joseph Paxton emerged with creative new solutions for conservatory and greenhouse design that increased human connection to nature; maximizing the use of glass by building with strong, more readily available and less expensive materials such as steel and cast iron Many of these steel conservatories are still inspirations for how we design and fabricate conservatories today, for both commercial and residential applications.
On the following pages, explore a few of the most iconic conservatories to emerge from the industrial boom of the 19th century. To learn more about the impact of the Industrial Revolution on Conservatory Architecture, order a copy of The Conservatory: Gardens Under Glass today!
Our hearts were full this past Monday as it proved the desire for conservatories and their continued preservation is still alive, capturing people’s hearts! This presentation hosted by the Greenwich Decorative Arts Society was nothing short of magical! As we gathered at the prestigious Bruce Museum, Alan transported attendees to another world surrounded by architectural wonders and botanical beauty Through evocative archival and contemporary photographs and drawings, we were reminded that conservatories are not just architectural wonders but windows into the cultural development of our societies and communities They stand as symbols of creativity, innovation, and our enduring connection to the natural world.\
Reflecting on this memorable moment, we are grateful to the Greenwich Decorative Arts Society for inviting us to share our passion with their community! Thank you to everyone who joined us on this captivating journey. If you were unable to attend this series but would like to have a deeper understanding of conservatory architecture, schedule a private firm presentation with our team!
Noteworthy Reads
The Historic Conservatory Archive
READ MORE!
Modern Luxury Greenhouse: A Collaboration with Olson Kundig & Dowbuilt
READ MORE!
The Influence of Stained Glass on Conservatory Design
READ MORE!
Jewel Conservatories: Comfort, Exclusivity, and Elegance
