Originally constructed in 1879, the Conservatory of Flowers in the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California is a rare example of the wood-and-glass conservatory in the late Victorian style constructed using early techniques of mass production and assembly of simple glass units. Following extensive wood decay and significant windstorm damage, the building underwent extensive restoration and structural upgrades from 1998 to 2002.
Preserving and maintaining an active greenhouse is no easy task, and working around plants that cannot be moved or environmental conditions that cannot be drastically altered calls for careful planning and thorough research and material testing, even for the simplest tasks, such as painting. This presentation aims to review some of the unique challenges that we have come across during our three decades of work at the Conservatory of Flowers and the rigorous planning and research we had to conduct to extend the maintenance window of the building while having minimal impact on its unique aesthetic and the collection of rare and exotic plants. Two projects we aim to discuss are the replacement of failed glazing putty with silicone extrusions and surface preparation and painting mock-ups in the Conservatory’s Aquatic Plants gallery. They provided opportunities to consider and evaluate alternate solutions for longevity, durability, and appropriateness to the unique environment of the Conservatory of Flowers.
