Plans are afoot to create a world first at the UK's pioneering Kew Gardens, with a renovation project for the Palm and Waterlily House.
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Planning has been submitted to the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames for renovation to the glasshouse, in order to create the first net-zero heritage glasshouse of its kind in the world.
The proposed renovation looks at adjusting and caring for the Palm House and Waterlily House, which show serious signs of deterioration. The last time a renovation was done was the 1980s, and without urgent work, the listed buildings and tropical plants are at risk of being lost.
First constructed between 1844 and 1848, the Palm House represented cutting edge technology for its time, with techniques borrowed from the shipbuilding industry. The Waterlily House opened in 1852, purpose built to showcase Victoria amazonica - the world's largest waterlily.
The glasshouse was originally powered by coal, before it was transitioned to oil and then to gas. This is the first time in the building's history that renewable options can be realistically used to power the Palm House. The intention is to create a carbon neutral Victorian glasshouse using fully electrified air and water source heat pump system alongside rainwater storage.
Sixteen thousand five hundred glass panels will be replaced, and high performance sealed glazing used. Bespoke silicone gaskets will be used to reduce heat loss and there will be improved access to make the space fully inclusive.
Although the project is not expected to start until 2027, the relocation and propagation of plant specimens has already begun. The project will last four-to-five years, but visitors to the Palm House will already be able to see the specialist work to re-pot and relocate plants.
Tom Pickering, head of glasshouse collections at RBG Kew, explains: "At the heart of this project is the need to protect the extraordinary plant collections housed in the Palm House and Waterlily House. Besides being beautiful, many have cultural, scientific and conservation value, and replacing these collections is unimaginable. Achieving net zero in these historic buildings is an unprecedented task, it’s a complex challenge which must consider the interplay of horticulture, climatic control, engineering and architecture.”
The project is expected to cost around £60 million and will safeguard the buildings for future generations.
