The restoration of the Temperate House at the Royal Botanic Gardens
Abstract
At the time of its construction, the Temperate House within the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew (RBG Kew) was the largest glasshouse in the world, and it remains the largest extant example from the Victorian period. The restoration project, finished in 2018, called upon the skills of the UK’s top experts. To be able to execute such a project, and to justify a major National Heritage Lottery Fund grant, the project team needed to show why the Temperate House was significant, and that it could be restored to enable the continuing cultivation and presentation of rare botanic specimens. This paper describes the restoration programme, covering work to the composite iron, steel, timber, masonry and glass structure, its consolidation and redecoration, and improvements to make it both more sustainable and better able to serve the community.
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Author's Biography
Francis Maude has specialised in architectural conservation throughout his professional career. He joined Donald Insall Associates in 1991, qualifying the following year and rising through the company to join the board as Director in 2014. He has an interest in traditional building materials, their repair and conservation, and writes regularly for specialist publications. His technical understanding of historic buildings construction permits an authoritative approach to conservation work for buildings in all sectors. As well as the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, his clients include the National Trust, English Heritage, the Royal Household, the Parliamentary Estate, the Church of England dioceses of Canterbury, London, Chelmsford and Durham, as well as private owners of listed buildings. His 30 years’ experience in historic buildings, their care and management makes him a valued partner in all stages in the conservation process, from the initial preparation of Conservation Management Plans, in which issues are identified and policies to address them are formulated, to the delivery of projects on-site. His international consultancy work includes the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, the City of Georgetown, Guyana, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and private palaces in India. In 2020 he co-founded the Commonwealth Heritage Forum, to share knowledge and interest in the built heritage of Commonwealth countries.
Citation
Maude, Francis (2021, December 15). The restoration of the Temperate House at the Royal Botanic Gardens. In the Journal of Building Survey, Appraisal & Valuation, Volume 10, Issue 3. https://doi.org/10.69554/GWBR8869.
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