A world-famous Victorian landmark is closing its doors for four years as a massive makeover takes place. With an ambitious £50million plan to renovate the tourist attraction on the cards, it promises to be an exciting project in the making.
The huge refurbishment of the historical Palm House, which sits at the centre of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, south west London has been announced.
Some 1,300 plants will be moved to allow for 16,000 glass panes to be replaced as the glasshouse prepares for an exciting revamp.
The aim is to also reduce emissions from the Palm House to net zero once the work has taken place, but the attraction will be shut for up to four years.
The Victorian glasshouse is shutting in 2027, so there’s still time to visit before the makeover rolls out – the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Palm House are a popular draw for national and international tourists.
The Kew Gardens website explained the project: “The Palm House and Waterlily House remain open to visitors to enjoy, however you might notice some changes in the Palm House as our expert horticulturists prepare the plants for the renovation.
“We are transforming Kew’s much loved, iconic Palm House and Waterlily House into the first net zero buildings of their kind, but time is running out.
“The Grade I and II glasshouses are showing serious signs of deterioration and are not energy efficient.”
Built in the 1840s, the Palm House is a stunning building – it was originally opened to showcase plant species from across the British Empire
An ‘amazing team of world class experts using cutting-edge technology’ will take care of the historic building as it goes through its transformation, the website explained.
Treasures from within the Palm House will be transformed to ‘make them net zero’ – and the much-loved building will reopen in 2030, fully restored.
Heating systems, water and electricity networks will all be sustainably changed to support the Royal Botanic Gardens goal of becoming climate positive – and net zero by 2030.
The exciting project will restore the Victorian glasshouses many years to come, conserving its heritage as well as protecting the tropical – and often rare or threatened plant species – that live inside the buildings.
Kew’s skilled specialists had already been preparing to temporarily move the plants from the Palm House – as the revamp had been on the cards for years.
Designs for the revamped glasshouses are being finalised this year, the Kew Gardens website explained, then the planning applications will then be submitted.
Cuttings have been taken and some plants have been moved to other areas at the tropical gardens – once the revamp has taken place, treasured plants can move back into the renovated Palm House.