Weekly Photo and Travel Theme Challenges: Fantastic Walls
On Mother’s Day we had a family day out at Kew Gardens. I was originally intending to post about the older glasshouse structures until I this one stopped me in my tracks! This is the Davies Alpine House, built in 2006, it’s walls of glass are not just fantastically beautiful, they are also very cleverly designed to provide the perfect climate for the plants on display. The glasshouse is set at the entrance to the Rock Gardens providing a wonderful contrast between the modern glass and old rock walls. Pure magic 🙂
“The Davies Alpine House was designed to create the cool, dry and windy conditions that alpine plants favour, without using energy-intensive air-conditioning and wind pumps. Its architects employed traditional practices and the latest technology to achieve this.
How the glasshouse works
Although the glasshouse is only 16 metres (50 feet) long, its roof reaches ten metres (33 feet) high. This creates a stack effect that draws in cool air through permanent openings on either side and releases warm air through vents in the roof. Meanwhile, a fan blows air through a concrete labyrinth beneath the ground. The air cools on its convoluted journey and is released into the glasshouse through steel pipes.
The panes of glass are 12mm thick and have a low iron content which allows over 90 per cent of light through. Meanwhile, fan-like shades on the east and west sides of the glasshouse protect plants from the most intense heat of the summer sun.”
Taking One Day At A Time 
what a cool structure
It’s quite extraordinary and supercool 😀 Thank you!
I was pretty struck by this on my visit last year. Such a cool structure and I love your photos 🙂
So glad we found it!! Kew is just enormous. The rock garden is really magnificent. Must go again in the summer 🙂
I agree – Kew IS enormous, I tried my best to get around it all, but missed out a large chunk and as the batteries had died in my camera and my feet were aching I gave up. Must return though, it is a wonderful place.
Absolutely! Too much to take in on one visit. We’re thinking of dividing it in sections to explore on different visits through the year 🙂
That sounds like a great idea – you can see it in different seasons too. Have you bought a season ticket then?
Considering it Jude! Simon really enjoyed it there 🙂 We do get a discount as the only way I can get around is in the wheelchair!! Different areas will shine in the different seasons I think 🙂
Great photos and amazing engineering.
It’s really masterful! You can really feel the air flows standing inside. Thanks Raewyn 🙂
How interesting! Thanks for the informative post, and great photos…..
My pleasure and thank you Sue 🙂 I hadn’t been to Kew for ages and finding the new buildings was great!
Great captures and interesting info! 🙂
Thanks Jackie 🙂 It was just such an impressive building and the science merging with aesthetics was too good not to share!
This was not here when we visited Kew many years ago. We loved the place then, but this is really a nice addition. Plus, you have some really nice images here. Thanks for the background information.
Thank you and my pleasure Robin 🙂 I love to see how places evolve over the years! Kew is wonderful for so many centuries worth of architecture and planting.
Incredible! Thank you so much for introducing this unique glass wall, beautiful design.
Thanks Amy 🙂 I just love how it works so perfectly in an ancient landscape!
Excellent images and fascinating subject!
Thanks Phil 🙂 Stunning bit of architecture and Kew is quite an extraordinary place!
No alligators though 😉
wow- the wonders of engineering!! Great images Sarah!
Thanks Cybele 🙂 The building just “works” if you know what I mean? Who says science and art can’t work together eh!!
agree!!
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