BUILD Design & Build Awards 2025 Oct25021 BUILD Q4 2025 Best Conservatory Builder 2025 The trend for adding a conservatory as a home extension emerged in the UK during the 1980’s through volume sales of affordable modular systems made of wood and glass from companies such as Amdega and Machin. The early success of these conservatories encouraged new entrants to the market keen to satisfy more discerning customers eager for genuinely bespoke designed and built timber framed conservatories, unimpeded by the limitations of modular systems. The modular companies also struggled to adapt to the onerous requirements of contemporary building codes such as thermal performance. Norfolk-based Marston & Langinger was the first to offer truly bespoke designed and built conservatories. Town & Country, a fabricator for Marston, soon broke out on their own, followed by over twenty other bespoke companies in short order. Town & Country’s success was marked by its philosophy that the conservatory should look as though it were always part of the original home not an add-on. However, by the mid-2000’s the leaders in the bespoke market fell victim to intense competition. The long-time leaders, Marston & Langinger ceased trading in 2009, and Town & Country’s UK operation ceased trading in 2015. The canon of work by Town & Country is impressive and having developed a robust presence in the United States, Town & Country U.S. carried on by acquiring the trademark and design profiles, and continued to manufacture in the UK. Town & Country’s design skill is exemplified by the custom conservatory designed and built for the Higginson Perkins House in Brookline Massachusetts. The house was built in c.1840 in the Gothic Revival Style. As part of the seventh renovation of the home, the architectural firm Colin Smith Architects was asked to re-imagine a wood-framed plain lean-to sunroom that did not match the style and detail of the home. The architect engaged Town & Country to collaborate on a bespoke conservatory to achieve communication between the Gothic Revival original home and a later addition being upgraded as part of the overall renovation. Mark Jones, Town & Country’s Design Director, was drawn to the architect’s idea of an octagonal component at the end of a lean-to because it offered generous height frames and a prominent roof feature. However, the connection to the lean-to roof portended undesirable internal support columns. The approach also called too much attention to itself by competing with the renovated home. Nonetheless, Mark maintained the octagonal theme by stretching it to form a lozenge, reaching deeper into the corner house elevations. To preserve the light filled interior, generous height windows were suggested. Additionally, Town & Country suggested an independent roof lantern between the main glass roof and house elevations, in effect creating a hybrid conservatory-orangery. This allowed natural light to reach adjacent rooms and adds considerable interest within the overall roof arrangement internally and externally. With the main house having elements of tracery within its upper reaches, Town & Country suggested a delicate linked diamond pattern as the most suitable decorative partner. Further frame detailing blended the tracery with classical pilasters and corbeling, with the pilaster capitals repeating the curved profile of the corbels already on the house. Normally a space with this much open roof would require the use of internal columns and tie bars, however, with a modest height adjustment to the perimeter fascia and paneled interior soffits, concealed steel sections allowed a completely open and seemingly effortless interior. The result speaks for itself. Contact Details: Contact: James Licata Company: Town and Country Conservatories Website: https://townandcountryus.com/ The Higginson-Perkins House
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