People In Glass Houses
Geoff Broughton
People In Glass Houses
Geoff Broughton
Predominantly glazed room additions and incorporations into
house design will prove to be the most significant development
in domestic architecture since we moved out of caves and into
living spaces built out of logs and bricks and mortar!
Although at a time when so many homes in the UK has a
conservatory (1 in 4 is the latest estimate) is it not
inevitable that a downturn is likely if not already taking
place? As the rate of order intake decreases across the UK what
are the real trends?
The industry has become enormous. It is the biggest ever in
terms of home improvements, easily outstripping its rivals in
terms of expenditure. It is the average family's third highest
spend after the house and the motor car! Additionally there are
all the purchases that take place after the conservatory is
built such as furnishings, blinds, and conservatory plants.
Acquiring these items is a continual process of buy and replace
with what is fashionable and what has worn out. I would suggest
that the same is the case with the main 'conservatory' itself.
The glazed conservatory frames can be replaced (the part above
the base and walls) with, in many cases, something more visually
appealing and technically worthwhile.
Can we really expect conservatory replacements to prevent a
downturn? Or, can we expect that in a couple of years time 1 in
2 homes will have a conservatory. For expectations such as these
to achieve reality the industry must take a long look at itself,
and re-examine it's past attitudes. The product must be more
fully understood in it's technicalities. Visual qualities must
be addressed to make these structures far more appealing and to
create new looks. To have a conservatory has become highly
fashionable but fashions wain without some sort of re-invention.
Most suppliers have lost sight of their real potential,
concentrating too much on the 'bottom line' for the ever
increasing number of repetitive installations.
Over the last 10 - 15 years we have seen the creation of a this
new product and of it's industry. Estimates vary greatly as to
it's size but £15 billion per annum in the UK ($25billion) over
the last year alone wouldn't seem far off the mark. The amazing
thing is, is that the product is in it's infancy! Why? Are these
structures not just live in greenhouses, a combination of frames
and glass. Isn't a window a window at the end of the day, no
matter how many you place side by side?
Quite frankly the conservatory AND their integration into
domestic buildings and architecture will prove to be the most
significant development since we moved out of caves and into
living spaces built out of logs and bricks and mortar! The point
here is that we are now learning to create and control,
beautiful light, warm and airy spaces. We are only now beginning
to move out of our cave like existences!
Technically, the most powerful developments so far have been in
glass and glazing technology. Then there has been the advent of
multi-wall translucent polycarbonate sheets and the development
of roof and window frame glazing profiles.
The achievment of transparency without enormous heat loss has
been one of the greatest challenges - at least at economical
cost. It has been the same problem even in warmer climates
except the challenge was to keep the heat out.The end result is
naturally light and far healthier living spaces.
Most of the work required to achieve growth in the industry is
to be ultimately far more professional in it's attitude to the
product and to it's customers.
What can we expect from future developments. It is now possible
to flick a switch and a glazed area will immediately become
blackened out, or greyed out or any other colour for that
matter. The technology is called 'smart glass' and the cost is
falling. Not only will we be able to create privacy as required,
but a further control on heat energy flow is introduced.
The public is becoming more aware of the benefits and the
potential downfalls in having a conservatory built. Some of the
so called conservatory structures built on homes to date leave a
great deal to be desired. They are a long long way from
environmental control technology. Many suffer from
uncontrollable over heating when the sun comes out. Suppliers
who continue to offer a product which is sub-standard on the
false ill-advised premise of being cheaper (you don't need roof
ventilation attitude) will bring themselves down and put the
whole industry at risk.
You might say that I am bound to say it, but including real
design capability within conservatory supplies will add real
perceived value. Just offering design drawings for customer
approval and a copy for the customer to hang on to, properly
presented, will ensure that friends and neighbours will benefit
from your design knowledge and expertise.
About the author:
Geoff Broughton, http://www.conservatorydesigns.com
geoffb@conservatorydesigns.com Geoff has been a designer and
specifier within the UK conservatory industry for the last 25
years. During that time he has exhibited his designs at the UK
Chelsea Flower Show and numerous other UK venues
|