Greenhouse construction has been revolutionized with the advent of modern plastics. A host of previously unknown possibilities are available.
Greenhouses were made of wood, glass, and even cast iron and glass. These materials represented a major technological advance for their time. However, this traditional material is rare. Stately homes and classical botanical gardens are preserved in the park.
The advent of aluminum made greenhouses available to a wider market after World War II. They were still glazed and relatively expensive. But demand for the greenhouse hobby has taken off.
While high quality greenhouses are often made of high quality wood like redwood, the most popular type of greenhouse structure for hobbyists is aluminum. A wooden frame will always look better. The aesthetics of the aluminum structure reveals its origins in commercial gardening. For many people they are unappealing, even though they are functional.
Commercial greenhouses are still often based on aluminum structures, but the glazing material has changed. Polycarbonate double wall greenhouses are usually glazed these days. This material is cheaper than glass and does not break. It also offers better thermal insulation than glass. The air trapped between the two walls prevents heat from escaping to the outside environment.
Even the frame of the greenhouse can be plastic. The potential of UPVC, a rigid, UV-resistant plastic material, was first recognized in the construction industry. It is used for double glazed doors and windows. The same system has now spread to greenhouses. Standard double glazing, or bespoke panels, are manufactured in the factory and brought to site where they can be bolted together.
The use of new materials has made it possible to explore new greenhouse structure designs. The greenhouse was a rectangular structure often with a sloping roof. It was convenient
The design is still widely used. But the domed greenhouse is becoming more and more popular. Often referred to as a solar dome, this type of structure makes maximum use of light.
The domed cast iron greenhouses were built in the 19th century. It was an incredible luxury. They were often used as palm groves. The surviving examples are amazing and rare structures.
Aluminum allowed the domed greenhouse to be mass-produced for the first time. The same look can now be found in redwood frames. Greenhouses of this type are often used as sunrooms and to cover swimming pools in cooler climates. Broadly speaking, the same dome shape concept was for the famous Eden Project biomes in Britain. The frame of these structures is made of steel. Three giant domed greenhouses cover a mud pit reclaimed from China and provide a series of environments that reflect the diversity of the planet.
No less visually impressive, in its own way, is the humble Polytunnel. It is a greenhouse structure made of plastic sheets stretched over a steel frame. Greenhouses of this type are widely used commercially. There are so many in southern Spain that you can see them from space. Satellite images show large areas of the region lined with multiple tunnels.
Their commercial uses are obvious, but the multi-tunnel can also be used in the same way as Eden Project's more spectacular greenhouses. The Center for Alternative Technology in Wales has a multi-tunnel planted with a collection of tropical plants. A small water feature provides humidity for the plants. The full effect of a peaceful and lush tropical environment.
On a simpler level, the use of plastic has created the possibility of a greater range of temporary structures than was possible in the past. It is possible to build. Or buy a wide range of ready-made temporary greenhouses that fit into the smallest of spaces. Even people who only have a balcony or terrace can now have a greenhouse.
Now that the greenhouse is no longer limited to the simpler rectangular structure, it is possible to adapt it to all kinds of spaces. Modern plastics can be cut, bent and stretched in ways not possible with glass. The change in the structure of the greenhouse and the availability of new materials have made the greenhouse more accessible than ever.
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