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Project Description: The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, evolved from the union of two contiguous royal estates, Richmond Gardens and Kew House, in the mid-18th century. The gardens now comprise a collection of rare and exotic plants and picturesque garden buildings, which include rock, aquatic, grass, rhododendron, bamboo, and formal gardens. Glasshouses of note include the Palm House, the Sir Joseph Banks Building, and the Princess of Wales Conservatory. The Palm House was built between 1844 and 1848 and completely dismantled and rebuilt between 1984 and 1989. It was designed as the focal point for the great 19th century botanical garden. The Palm House displayed plant wealth of the tropical world, particularly palms, for an amazed Victorian public. The architecture, curvilinear iron and glass, is a classic Victorian design that was the result of collaboration between architect Decimus Burton and engineer Richard Turner. Set in a series of vistas that were designed by William Andrews Nesfield, it remains a centerpiece of the Gardens. The Princess of Wales Conservatory which opened in 1989 uses the latest technology for its environmental controls and was designed to enable cost-effective management of ten climatic zones in the building. The zones range from mangrove swamp and riverine habitats to arid desert conditions. Many of the species are from endangered habitats and are part of a growing scientific collection which is dedicated to plant conservation. The Aroid house is the oldest glasshouse at Kew. It was once located on the grounds of Buckingham Palace, and, at the direction of William IV, moved to Kew in 1836 where it was modified by Jeffry Wyatville. The Orangery, built in 1761, was designed by Sir William Chambers. It now houses the Kew shop and restaurant. The Pagoda, built between 1761 and 1762, was designed by Sir William Chambers as a 'surprise' for Princess Augusta. A ten story octagonal structure of brick and red painted wood rising over 50m, it is situated at the end of Pagoda Vista and is the focal point of the southern section of Kew Gardens. King William's Temple is surrounded by a garden of Mediterranean plants. Nearby classical Temple of Bellona was built in 1760. Project History: The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew was created from land donated from two estates belonging to the Royal family. In 1759, Augusta, Dowager Princess of Wales and mother of George III, laid out 3.5 hectares of her estate as a botanic garden. William Aiton became her head gardener. Lord Bute, her botanical adviser, and Sir William Chambers designed a number of buildings for the botanic garden and surrounding pleasure grounds. Upon Augusta's death in 1772, George III added his grandfather's neighboring Richmond estate, which had been designed by Lancelot Capability Brown to Kew Gardens. Sir Joseph Banks became the unofficial director of the botanic garden, sending collectors out all over the world in pursuit of plants of economic, scientific or horticultural interest. In 1840, Queen Victoria gave the garden to the Royal Botanic Society. The first official director, Sir William Hooker, was appointed in 1844. He established the Museums and Department of Economic Botany in 1847 and the Herbarium and Library in 1852. The garden was expanded from 4.5 to 11 hectares. Willam Andrews Nesfield laid out the four major vistas, the Pagoda Vista, Broad Walk, Holly Walk, and Cedar Vista. In addition, Nesfield designed the picturesque lake in 1845 and the pond in front of the Palm House in 1847. Sir William's son, Sir Joseph Hooker, became the next director and served in that capacity from 1865 to 1885. He established the Jodrell Laboratory in 1876. In 1983 the Royal Botanic Gardens became a corporate body with charitable status and a Board of Trustees under the provisions of the National Heritage Act 1983. The current mission of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is to ensure better management of the Earth's environment by increasing our knowledge and understanding of the plant kingdom: the basis of life on Earth. Our mission will be achieved though worldwide research into plants and the ecosystem, publication, access to all knowledge so gained for the world's scientific community and through the display and interpretation to the public of the collections at Kew and Wakehurst Place. Whenever possible, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, will endeavour to reduce and reverse the rate of destruction of the world's plant species and their habitats. It is primarily funded by direct government grant via the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with support from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Foundation and the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Artist/Architect: William Kent, Charles Bridgeman, Lancelot Capability Brown, Sir William Chambers, William Aiton, the elder. Size: 121 hectares (300 acres) |
