The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has submitted a planning application to retrofit its Palm House and Waterlily House glasshouses with heat pumps and sealed glazing. The result of the £60m project, Kew said, would be the first net zero glasshouses of their kind.
Both glasshouses are currently showing serious signs of deterioration and were last refurbished in the 1980s, Kew said: “Without urgent work the listed buildings and tropical plants they protect are at risk of being lost forever.”
The buildings were constructed between 1844 and 1852 using techniques borrowed from the shipbuilding industry, with the Waterlily House purpose-built to showcase the world’s largest waterlily.
Kew noted that having previously transitioned from coal to oil and then to gas, ‘this is the first time in history that renewable options can feasibly be used to power the Palm House, creating a carbon neutral Victorian glasshouse that will protect the 1300 plants housed within.’
However, the body noted that balancing the often contradictory needs of horticulturists, engineers and architects has meant the challenge has not been attempted for a building of this kind before.
Richard Deverell, Director of RBG Kew, said:
This is a pivotal moment in the history of Kew. With sustainability at the core of our mission, this project exemplifies our commitment to safeguarding both the environment and cultural heritage. The transformation of the Palm House and Waterlily House into net-zero icons will not only protect irreplaceable plants but serve as a beacon of what sustainable heritage can achieve.
The Kew Capital Projects Team is working with Hugh Broughton Architects and Cundall to strike the balance between energy efficiency and the specific needs of the tropical plants.
The proposed design includes replacement of 16,500 glass panes with high-performance sealed glazing; use of bespoke silicone gaskets to reduce heat loss; installation of air-source and water-source heat pumps; and upgrading of the rainwater storage and irrigation system.
Hugh Broughton ArchitectsThe project is expected to start in 2027 and will last four to five years. To preserve the 1000 plant species, two new glasshouses, one permanent and one temporary, have been built for the cultivation of tropical plants, featuring temperature, humidity and light management.
Tom Pickering, Head of Glasshouse Collections at RBG Kew, added:
Achieving net zero in these historic buildings is an unprecedented task, it is a complex challenge which must consider the interplay of horticulture, climatic control, engineering, and architecture.
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