By Neil Turner, director, Howarth Litchfield
Our attitudes to upgrading our homes changes (constantly) over time. Through the years I have seen all sorts of trends come and go.
One topic that is being discussed a lot recently relates to conservatories and whether they are about to become yesterday’s hot idea. It’s been reported that they are falling out of fashion and I, for one, am relieved.
The fashion for these bolt-on rooms over the last 40 years has seen nearly one in five houses acquire a glass room. The word conservatory is actually derived from the Italian “conservato” (stored or preserved) and “ory” from Latin – a place for- therefore a place for storing food.
In the 17th century it was a place for wealthy families to grow exotic fruits.
The Victorians loved the structures and created elaborate large metal and timber styles and attached them to their houses.
Enough of history and fast forward to the 1990s. Their popularity grew in the 1990s and early 2000s, with families looking for space and light. Planning and building regulations allowed designs to be granted permission more easily than conventional structures. However, they were often poorly built, badly detailed and used non-eco-friendly materials (often UPVC). They often clashed with the house style and were cold in the winter and too hot in the summer. Many people regretted their decision.
I am happy to declare my dislike for these horrible structures which are bolted on to houses with very little consideration for the attached building, looking like ‘a wart on the face of an old friend’ – to paraphrase our new King Charles III.
There are lots of reasons why they are falling out of fashion. They are incredibly inefficient – losing heat in the winter and overheating in summer. No amount of under floor heating or ventilation is going to make them better and with current energy costs so high, they have become an expensive problem.
New building regulations which restrict the window sizes and require a higher thermal performance will make it harder for conservatory designs to be achievable. Window sizes are now linked to the floor area of a new room and its orientation; this requires more thinking and testing to show how it works. The old conservatory of recent years is not going to pass.
Pressures on families to create more useable space or better gardens can be achieved without the conservatory. I would always advocate building a ‘proper’ extension with a roof that can be used all year round. Equally good solutions can be achieved that are more beautiful, more energy efficient and are still light and airy.
I would suggest inviting an architect around to your house and they will help you to re-design your house with a better (and more appropriate) extension. Yes, this will cost more, but it won’t lose value as conservatories do. The chances are it will be cheaper to run and more enjoyable. The architect can also look at the existing layout, as many houses benefit from their layouts being reviewed and space redesignated before building more rooms.
A well-considered extension can still be light but should also be exciting and fit for purpose. A well-designed extra room or rooms will be an investment for the future not an expensive regret that is removed after a few years.
