Architect - Geary and Black Architects

Client - House owners

Brief description of works carried out –

The new orangery has been constructed to fill a small courtyard formed on three sides by the existing house. Because of the age of the existing building it has been necessary to frame out with timber away from the original brickwork and not interfere with the existing structure. This has enabled a room to be formed which is square and which will accommodate the decorative ceiling and the adjoining bays. The ceiling is based on a ceiling in 10 Downing Street designed by John Soane, however in this instance it was not possible to form a square area to accommodate the ceiling and this made the task more difficult. The main part of the ceiling is rectangular in shape, is part of a true sphere and is decorated by a series of flutes. The flutes have been calculated to all be the same size and are joined by a flat member to accentuate their appearance. The flutes reduce proportionately in size as they approach the top where they meet a decorative moulding at the base of a lantern panelled in timber. A highly decorative ceiling centrepiece forms the ceiling to the lantern. There are pendentives formed in the four corners of the main ceiling and they have been decorated with the Four Seasons which have been handmodelled in clay especially for this project. The main ceiling is framed on all sides by arch mouldings of the correct radii to ensure a perfect junction with the fluted ceiling. The reverse side of the arches meets four rectangular bays except for the one facing the entrance doors which has circular ends. All bays have a moulded cornice, decorative spandrel pieces above the arch mouldings and plaster panelling above the timber wall panelling and dado. Cooks have been responsible for forming the whole of these works in fibrous plaster, together with the solid plastering to four small rooms in the corners, formed by the work. For these works the company has been awarded the Crabb Trophy in the prestigious Plaisterers Trophy competition.