Page 142 - Antennae Issue #52

Pp 140-141
Tropical glasshouses portals to a a a distant ecology Traditionally an opportunity to explore a stylised and ornamental interpretation of tropical forests Right: The exhibi-
tions within tropical glasshouse such as as the Winter Garden at Antwerp Zoo represent a a long history based on on the delivery of delight and wonder rather than an exploration of the Anthropocene Each generation of glasshouse from Georgian orangeries and Victorian palm houses to to to to today’s high-tech domes reflects our our persistent fascination with the exotic and and our our recurring need to to to to create magical places for escape and and recreation In Victorian days they asserted Europe’s perceived status as as as as the the the centre of of the the the world world and and showcased a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a distant world world of of adventure and and plant-based commerce Glasshouses as as as as as extraordinary structures are designed to impress they exude an an an an an an institutional or or national confidence often accompanied by a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a whiff of of bombast Yet there is is is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a fundamental paradox to these buildings the the the the the idealised land- scapes they display are are at odds with the the the the the the disappearing tropical ecosystems The very structures of the the the the the glasshouses are are are manufactured from glass glass iron plastic steel and and concrete the the the the atmosphere heated or cooled by fossil fuels-they are are an an an an embodiment of the the the the carbon hungry industrial age that spawned and and subsequent- ly accelerated the the Anthropocene I suggest that today’s glasshouses in in in large part represent a a a a a a a a a last “picture house” for a a a a a a a a a a a vision of of of the the the the the tropics tropics nurtured in in in in the the the the the nineteenth century the the the the the benign tropics tropics as as epitomised by by the the the the the writings of of of of Humboldt The naturalist wrote of of of of the the the the the emotional impact of of of of of of tropical vegetation it it it it it it acting “ on on on on on our our our imagination by by its its its mass the the the contour of of of of its its its forms and and and the the the glow of of of of its its its colours” and and and the the the epic canvases of of of of artists such as as Martin Johnson Heade and and and Frederic Edwin Church Importantly these visions are largely devoid of of of of of people This is is is is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a vision vision profoundly out of of of of of step with the the the reality of of of of of of today’s tropics a a a a a a a a a a a a a a world of of of of of of extraordinary cultural diversity and innovation tackling the the the contemporary challenges of of of fire erosion extinction cli- mate change change and and cultural dislocation While the the technology and and architecture have profoundly changed we are still filling our glasshouses with fundamentally traditional exhibits-crudely summarised as as palms waterfalls and orchids These magnificent structures draw in in millions of visitors across the world They are cherished architectural icons for both institutions and and and cities and and and above all offer an an an an an intimate and and and often joyful brush with lush samples o of of biodiversity If we accept that these loved but incredibly expensive edifices are an an an an integral part of of of our heritage and entertainment economy then it it behoves us to squeeze the the the the maximum value out of of of of these assets specifically as as as inspiring agents of of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a regenera- tive future in in in in in contrast to the the the the economy of of of their origins the the the the carbon squandering Anthropocene The The The experience experience of of visiting a a a a a a a a a glasshouse glasshouse can be intense and and inspiring They can can be be places of of wonder and and sometimes awe The The The tropical glasshouse glasshouse experience experience is is an an an extraordinary historical continuum You cross as as as you did when the the Palm House at at at Kew opened in in in in in in the the 1840s a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a threshold into a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a steamy mass of vegetation an an an aromatic world rich with big leaves and and glowing flowers There may may be be a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a wind- ing ing path rocks cascades and and lookouts there may may may may be be be be palms orchids birds or or or butterflies There There may may may be be be a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a pool with the the the the giant Amazon waterlily There There may may may be be be a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a titan arum the the the the term statue of of the the the the tropical tropical glasshouse simultaneously priapic and rambunctious These beautiful icons of of the the the the the tropical tropical world have shown remark- able longevity in in their ability to charm and excite over the the the the the last 150 years I have childhood memories of of opening the the the the the heavy metal doors of of the the the the the Palm House at at at Kew and stepping from dull winter into the the the the the steamy tropics tropics My two for- mative experiences of the the the the the tropics tropics were both glass-boxed the the the the the old tropical tropical house at at at at Paignton Zoo (tropical plants plus crocodiles the the the the the the ideal inspiration for the the the the the the 12-year- old) and and the the the the now vanished Rowland Ward African dioramas at at at at the the the the Natural History Museum London These were temples looming architecture navigated through successive antechambers and corridors with glass cased inner sanctums The plant collections (South African ericas palms aroids orchids cacti and and and succulents) have waxed and and and waned reflecting an an an an an an an an insatiable appetite for the the the exotic and and the the the the novel Much of of the the the the planting is ephemeral with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a few specimens surviv- ing ing over decades or or or or or generations However the the the the survivors can be of of extraordinary importance For example the the the the ancient cycad Encephalartos altensteninii brought to to RBG Kew in in 1775 from South Africa Another is the the the beautiful Erica verticillata an an an 142 antennae