Biltmore Estate Conservatory re-opens after extensive restoration

Biltmore Estate Conservatory re-opens after extensive restoration

At the height of the Gilded Age, conservatories were the ultimate statement of luxury, exhibiting hundreds of fragrant flowers, exotic palms and delicate orchids in abundance. Nestled in the gardens of his Asheville, North Carolina, Biltmore Estate, George Washington Vanderbilt’s Conservatory was no exception.

Now, after a century of ongoing use and two years of extensive renovation, this centerpiece to Frederick Law Olmsted’s 75 acres of formally landscaped gardens and grounds shines anew.

This spring, the Conservatory reopened to the public after the $2.5 million restoration. This striking glass structure, designed by Biltmore House architect Richard Morris Hunt, stands as a symbol of the turn of the century’s passion for horticulture, much as the home is reminiscent of the opulent Gilded Age.

"From New York to San Francisco, we are seeing a renewed interest in preserving these spectacular historic buildings," said Vanderbilt’s great grandson, William A. V. Cecil, Jr., Biltmore Company CEO. "We are excited by this trend and look forward to displaying our work on the new Conservatory. In addition, by returning the structure to Hunt’s original design, we offer something our guests have never seen before."

The collaborative effort of two men at the pinnacle of their careers, architect Hunt, and landscape architect Olmsted, the 7,500 square foot Conservatory and its 12,000 square foot basement were completed in 1895. "With Vanderbilt’s significant financial resources, Biltmore Estate was for Hunt and Olmsted a welcome opportunity to realize their ambitions on a grand scale," said Bill Alexander, Biltmore Estate Landscape Curator. "The result was a master plan which integrated all aspects of the landscape, the buildings and the gardens. The Conservatory’s brick and pebble dash facade, for example, echoes the design of buildings across the estate."

The basement is the Conservatory’s most unusual feature — none other is known to have one. The surprising design accommodated the landscape, allowing the building to nestle at the lower end of the gardens, oriented to the south. The north facade presides over the Walled Garden, but on the south side, the subterranean basement opens onto a lower level. Here, Hunt and Olmsted tucked away the so-called "head house," the estate’s gardening headquarters, the conservatory’s boiler, coal storage rooms, and gardening equipment. While concealing the basement’s bustling activity, the creative location cleared the way for a breath-taking vista from Biltmore House onto the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Upstairs, Vanderbilt’s guests enjoyed an impressive plant collection, even by contemporary standards. At a time when these structures were often fancy tea rooms or havens for horticultural amateurs, the Biltmore Conservatory also served as a central and functional element of Vanderbilt’s working estate, offering more than a spectacular array of specimens.

At the turn of the century, gardening was widely viewed as a healing pastime, even a possible antidote to the nation’s increasing materialism and greed. A generation of wealthy men dotted the nation with lavish estate conservatories. While serious gardeners were determined to provide optimal growing conditions for their plant collections, many were tantalized by the conservatory’s sensuous atmosphere and chose to entertain friends and family amid giant palms and luscious orchids.

"Because Vanderbilt’s vision for Biltmore was that of a self-sufficient, working estate, the Conservatory, and especially its propagation area, played a significant role in providing the house and grounds with plants," said Bill Alexander. "Though our documentation is lacking in this area, the Conservatory probably complemented the 300-acre nursery which offered one of the nation’s most extensive stocks until it was destroyed by floods in 1916."

Despite continuous efforts to maintain its precious glass structure, the Biltmore Conservatory has since seen a century of active use and slow deterioration. Started in 1996, the exhaustive renovation has focused on much-needed repairs while restoring much of its floorplan to the original 1893 design. It now represents the best of both turn-of-the-century grandeur and state-of-the-art technology. Brickwork has been repaired, cracks stabilized and beams reinforced. The greenhouse structure was cleaned and repainted; custom-made growing beds and reproductions of period benches were installed. Badly damaged by water leakage, the basement ceiling, including its brick arch structure and steel beams, was strengthened and waterproofed with a state-of-the-art process. Modern additions comprise an advanced climate control system, new wiring and plumbing, and an efficient boiler with hot water heating system.

"George Washington Vanderbilt, like many of his peers, was fascinated with cutting edge technologies and innovations. I believe he would have been excited by all the research, work and sheer effort we have put into updating — and preserving — this historic building," said Alexander.

Reserving a number of surprises for modern-day guests, the final lay-out reflects not only Hunt’s original vision, but the period’s fascination — and classification — of the plant world. Sheltered in the Cool House on the east side, azaleas, camellias and a variety of bulb plants are expected to thrive under slightly cool conditions. On the west side, the Hot House will shelter tropical flowering plants such as fuschias, begonias and hibiscus. In the central wing, the Propagation Room will highlight a sampling of crops used on the Estate at various times of year, such as bedding plants, forced bulbs and poinsettias.

Linking all three wings will be the Palm House, where towering palms stretch their elegant leaves to the ceiling. In addition, the Orchid Room feature bromeliads and orchids, some of which are epiphytes, which gain moisture and nutrients through aerial roots. The Exhibition Room serve as a themed exhibit area, exploring new horticultural topics on a regular basis. A special spring presentation features plants with unusual names, such as the Monkey Puzzle Tree, the Pencil Cactus and the Never Never Plant. A Gardener’s Place, a shopping haven for garden enthusiasts, reopens in the basement.

Entrance to the Conservatory is included in a one-day admission to Biltmore Estate. Information: Biltmore Estate, One North Pack Square, Asheville, NC 28801, phone (828) 274-6333, toll-free at 1-800-922-0018; www.biltmore.com