When John Ruskin attempted to disparage the Crystal Palace by referring to it as 'a great cucumber frame', he hit upon a truism. The Crystal Palace outdid its Victorian glasshouse contemporaries in public gardens around the world and represented the zenith of a building type that had developed spectacularly from humble horticultural roots. The Glasshouse traces the evolution of glass enclosures from the mid-seventeenth century when the desire to nurture exotic plants in a foreign and often hostile climate led to the development of the glasshouse and ingenious mechanical servicing systems, capable of creating its own artificial microclimate. Through tremendous technical advances in the early nineteenth century, large-scale constructions were built initially for private individuals and botanical societies. Towards the mid-century, with the advent of mass-production and specialist component systems, the fashioning of modular constructions, like the Crystal Palace, became possible. The Glasshouse charts the work of innovators such as Joseph Paxton and J C Loudon, and proceeds to examine their influence on the pioneers of twentieth-century design such as Paul Scheerbart and Bruno Taut.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"This elegant book reveals that much of the knowledge needed for the design of solar houses and 'biospheres' has been known for more than 100 years!...includes a juicy bibliography and a glittering collection of sharp photographs and drawings. A real find for indoor food-raisers and solar house designers."
—CoEvolution Quarterly
"The glasshouse—or greenhouse, in American usage—evolved in the 17th century to protect gardeners' exotic plants from the rigors of the northern winter. This book traces the development of man's skill in creating and controlling an artificial climate from the period of the 1600s to the present and beyond. The period of greatest advance in this field was the 19th century. The author discusses the ingenious constructions made initially for private individuals and botanical societies during the 19th century, and then examines the mass production of components and the fashioning of modular constructions such as the crystal palace. Discussions of the work of such architects as Paul Scheerbart and Bruno Taut, Frei Otto, and Buckminster Fuller close the volume."
—Progressive Architecture
"Within each chapter there is a well-constructed narrative that brings out welcome new material on the development of iron, steel, and glass structures and their uses. The notably rich selection of over 300 pictures, well reproduced and generously annotated, relates closely to the discussion."
—Technology and Culture --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
—CoEvolution Quarterly
"The glasshouse—or greenhouse, in American usage—evolved in the 17th century to protect gardeners' exotic plants from the rigors of the northern winter. This book traces the development of man's skill in creating and controlling an artificial climate from the period of the 1600s to the present and beyond. The period of greatest advance in this field was the 19th century. The author discusses the ingenious constructions made initially for private individuals and botanical societies during the 19th century, and then examines the mass production of components and the fashioning of modular constructions such as the crystal palace. Discussions of the work of such architects as Paul Scheerbart and Bruno Taut, Frei Otto, and Buckminster Fuller close the volume."
—Progressive Architecture
"Within each chapter there is a well-constructed narrative that brings out welcome new material on the development of iron, steel, and glass structures and their uses. The notably rich selection of over 300 pictures, well reproduced and generously annotated, relates closely to the discussion."
—Technology and Culture --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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