Royal Botanic Gardens Kew London, UK, 2002

Abstract

Kew Gardens are an extraordinary mixture of scientific institution and picturesque pleasure grounds, in which fine buildings set off one of the world’s most extensive and varied plant collections. In the 19th century, the gardens were developed from being a royal enclosure to a public park in which remarkable plants from all over the world could be examined among exquisite garden follies like the Pagoda by William Chambers. In 1848, the Great Palm House designed by Decimus Burton with Richard Turner was opened so that tropical plants, as well as those from temperate climates could be shown to the public. Now restored, this smoothly curved early masterpiece of glass and iron sets a standard for all subsequent building at Kew.