What is an Orangery?

Once an addition found only in the grandest of homes, orangeries were developed in the 17th century as a way to grow citrus trees and woody plants, as the levels of light and insulation they offered created the perfect conditions for the fruits to continue to thrive throughout the winter. As transportation changed and it became easier to buy the lovely oranges, lemons and limes – rather than grow them – orangeries were embraced as another living space within the home. They also inspired the creation of another well-loved extension option: the conservatory.

While orangeries were the trendsetter, many people have never set foot in one, and conservatories have become a rather more expected way to add to the home. It’s perhaps partly because of this that orangeries are now becoming more fashionable.

As rooms go, both orangeries and conservatories can be used in much the same way, but it’s their construction and the way in which they meet and extend the home which sets them apart. Conservatories usually connect to a property by an adjoining wall and offer a greater level of daylight due to larger expanses of glass on the roof and walls, so what makes an orangery so different?

While traditional orangeries combine brick bases, short frames and flat roofs with a central roof lantern and glass panels in the roof and walls, the pillars can be removed from the design and replaced with glass, from floor to ceiling, giving the walls more of a conservatory look and feel, while retaining the orangery roof. In this sense, it could be said that orangeries offer a versatility in design and construction that conservatories can’t quite match. Having a solid flat roof with glass panes means that there is also space within the ceiling to add a light fixture (because it’s not completely covered in glass) so the orangery offers high levels of natural daylight and allows for more light in the evening.

Even today, orangeries have a sense of grandeur – with their solid roofs, stylish columns, elegant structure and expanses of glass – they offer a homely sense of elegance both inside and out. The use of brick in their construction means that aesthetically they can appear to be more of a natural extension to a home, which leads them to be a great option when you’re not quite up for a full on single storey extension, but would like to create some additional space and enjoy lots of natural light. It’s also quite delightful to be able to ask guests of they would like to retire to the orangery.

To find out more about how an orangery could change your home, why not order a brochure or give us a call on 01279 427777.