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The Great
Greenhouse - National Botanic Garden of Wales
Architect
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Foster +
Partners
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Date Built
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1995 - 2000
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Location
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National
Botanic Garden of Wales near
Llanarthney, Carmarthenshire
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Description
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The centre-piece of the
National Botanic Garden of Wales is the
Great Glasshouse which, when it was
completed, was the largest single-span
glasshouse in the world. Foster +
Partners describe it as,
"Elliptical in
plan," and add that, "the building swells from the
ground like a glassy hillock, echoing
the undulations of the surrounding
landscape."
The roof measures 99 by 55 metres and is
supported by 24 arches. To optimise
energy usage the building has a
computer-controlled system that opens and
closes glazing panels to regulate the
levels of temperature, humidity and air
movement.
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