Pet Services

Curious About an Orangery

Earlier this week I received an email from my dad asking if I would be prepared to help him build an orangery. My initial reaction to this unusual request was to wonder what is a orangery? In the back of my mind I was hoping that it was the latest must have children's toy that would be all the rage this Christmas, its construction would be fun as well as fairly easy. Knowing my father I had a strange feeling that whatever it actually is that building one was not going to be easy or a straight forward task. For my benefit, though that was probably not his primary intention, he included links to the two websites with the orangeries that he liked. I did not realise that he had already narrowed his search down to firstly this classical style orangery from Amdega and this one, a more contemporary looking orangery from Portland Conservatories.

When I looked at the two orangeries that my dad intimated that he liked what first struck me is that they could not be further from each other in style if you tried. I work as a graphic designer and I love nothing more than to mix different styles in my work. Contrasting contemporary design elements with classical elements can when the intended juxtaposition works create an entirely new eclectic design style. In my opinion design, be it graphic, interior or architecture all works on the same set of principles. These principles are centred round form, function and space and their relationship with one another. I like to think that experience of being one type of designer provides me with a good comprehension and appreciation of other types of design. I am not an architect but I think that I have enough knowledge of design to be able to meaningfully communicate with an architect in a mutually shared language. Some of the best graphic designers that I have worked with started out as architects. When they made the switch from designing buildings to designing for computer screens were able to transfer their existing skills over to this other medium successfully.

My main concern is that my father was going to choose his new orangery without taking into account the building that it was going to be attached to. A classical looking orangery attached to a modern house could easily stand out like a sore thumb in the same way as a contemporary design orangery would stand out against a classically designed house. It would not be impossible for this type of contrast to work successfully, but it would not be easy to achieve a clash of styles which would work together, to compliment each other as opposed to competing each other. Using difference as the central element in design can bring new life to existing designs. When it works the results can make for a fantastic spectacle, when it fails the potential for a monstrous contraption is immense. The last thing any designer wants to do is to leave behind a permanent eye sore.

This is essentially the same debate that is currently going on around the future of Edinburgh's historical old town. The old town has until now managed to preserve its medieval street layout and pre-reformation architecture. This is why Edinburgh's old town is an instantly recognisable world famous icon. Recently though the decision was taken to allow new buildings being constructed within the old town to feature contemporary designs. A few minutes walk from the historical old town is Princes Street, Edinburgh's main shopping street. In the days before town planners realised that it was important to preserve historical architecture they allowed historic buildings to be demolished and replaced with what were at the time of their construction contemporary buildings. Shops consisting entirely of glass fronts now sit in-between the original Georgian style buildings. I don't think that anybody would even pretend that there is any kind of harmony or play between these two contrasting styles. I realise that if design is to continually evolve then design as a discipline must move, experiment, grow and react to what has come before. I don't believe that current design can be held prisoner to what has preceded it, like any other medium it must continue developing and allowed to be the author of its own narrative.

My dad has absolutely no interest in debates in modern architecture; he is probably even blissfully unaware of the existence of these debates. He has made himself a protagonist in the debate through his actions. I have a vision of him deciding to build a sleek contemporary or perhaps even a futuristic looking orangery that would not look out of place in the a dystopian sci-fi version of the future. I do not have a problem with that kind of design, I enjoy contemporary architecture, but I am not sure would welcome it when it is attached to his classical style Edwardian house. However you look at it I don't believe that it will be easy for these two styles to work together or compliment each other.

I believe that my first task if I am going to help my dad with his latest pet project will not to be lending my services as a labourer but to act as a design consultant and make sure that he makes the right decision based on sound advice and not superficial concerns. At least though I know what an orangery is now.

About the Author:

I am a graphic designer, working and living in Bristol.