The Princess of Wales Conservatory

Climate and Technology

The design challenge for the Princess of Wales Conservatory was both technical and aesthetic. Technically, it had to replace 26 elderly glasshouses with one building. Aesthetically, the site was exceptionally sensitive, being close to existing works of the past 'greats' - Burton's Palm House and Chambers' Orangery.

The keynote for the design was the highest possible energy efficiency allied to the lowest possible maintenance costs. With its angled glass construction and with most of its space below ground, the conservatory is a most effective collector of solar energy. The volume is relatively low in relation to its floor area so that temperatures within the individual zones may be altered quickly.

The ten different environments are computer-controlled to provide different levels of heat, humidity and light. Sensors on walls and in beds report exact environmental conditions to the computer, which commands heat to flow, ventilation to open, or mists to spray to increase humidity.

Beneath the conservatory there are two 227,000 litre (50,000 gallon) storage tanks for rainwater collected from the roof slopes and used, after filtration and ultraviolet treatment, for irrigation and replenishment of the ponds.

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