Distant view from the South West, showing the Garden front of the new glasshouse. Digital image of B 38701.

Description Distant view from the South West, showing the Garden front of the new glasshouse. Digital image of B 38701.

Date c. 1965

Collection Papers of George Hay, architect, Edinburgh, Scotland

Catalogue Number SC 713673

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of B 38701

Scope and Content Exhibition plant houses, Royal Botanical Gardens, Inverleith Row, Edinburgh After becoming unsafe in 1961, the original palm houses of the Royal Botanic Gardens (built 1834-58) were demolished and a new range of exhibition plant houses designed and built 1965-7, to designs by George A H Pearce (team leader), with Allan Pendreigh, John Johnson and Campbell Mackay. The angular metal and glass structure relies on a structural support system comprising tetrahedron (four sided) frames and triangulated pylons supported from above by metal wires. This shows a the plant houses from the gardens, which were founded in the 17th century. The glass and metal structure contrasts with the lawns, trees and other plants. The design places structural supports on the exterior, which allows a larger interior area for the display of plants. At the centre of the building, glazed doors indicate the main entrance. The main exhibition space measures 126 by 18 metres, and consists of five areas separated by glazed partitions. Within each area the temperature and humidity are controlled to provide ideal conditions for tropical ferns, aquatic and temperate plants, cacti and succulents. The separate orchid house is identical in design and is linked to the one remaining Victorian palm house. This building has been selected as one of Scotland's key 20th-century Modern architectural monuments. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Accession Number 1991/27

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/713673

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap