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design speak: what is a conservatory?

In tropical design, sun shading is an essential strategy to keep interior spaces cool. This is the reason why a lanai or a shaded open porch is a common feature of many Filipino homes. However, in the colder parts of the world that do not get as much sunshine as we do, their porches do the opposite. Instead of shading, their porches, which are closed in glass or polycarbonate material, are meant to trap heat and light to warm their interior spaces. These glass-enclosed porches that function like greenhouses are called sunrooms or conservatories.

Initially, conservatories in cold climates come in the form of large municipal glasshouses to house tropical plants and to function as a naturally-heated public space. Nowadays, because of its energy efficiency (with regards to heating) and aesthetic value, conservatories are consciously integrated into the layout of the house. They are usually used as a casual living area, a den, a dining area, and even as a kitchen—shared/social spaces used regularly by the family that benefit from the warm temperature and the garden setting of conservatories. They come in different forms and sizes to suit the layout of your home and the needs of your family.

For our readers outside the Philippines who are interested in adding a conservatory in their homes, check this diy conservatory site that helps you get the conservatory you want, and this conservatory blog for more information and resources. df

*images via housetohome

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