Verrière / Catalogue / Garfield Park Conservatory

🇺🇸United States·Open to the public

Garfield Park Conservatory

Chicago

Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago
Photo : Tichnor Brothers, Publisher — Public domain
Year
1906–1907
Architect
Jens Jensen
Style
Naturalistic landscape under glass
Dimensions
≈1.8 ha under glass
« Designed as a natural landscape, not a collection displayed in rows. »

Landscape architect Jens Jensen sought to break with the tradition of greenhouse showcases, designing naturalistic landscapes under glass with the Prairie School architects rather than rows of specimens. Billed at its opening as the largest public conservatory under a single roof in the world, it today houses more than 2,700 plant varieties, including cycads over two centuries old. Devastated by a hailstorm in 2011, it reopened fully restored in early 2012.

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41.89° N, 87.72° W

Further reading
The Glass House
John Hix
The definitive academic history of greenhouse architecture, from the Victorian era to modern structures.
 Glass Houses
May Woods & Arete Swartz Warren
A richly illustrated survey of greenhouses, orangeries and winter gardens around the world.
 The Crystal Palace
Patrick Beaver
The full story of the project that invented large-scale glass architecture.
 Greenhouse Gardener's Companion
Shane Smith
The practical guide for anyone dreaming of building their own greenhouse at home.

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