Long-Shuttered Gem Ready To Reopen in Golden Gate Park

摘要

Curators are putting finishing touches on exhibits at San Francisco's Conservatory of Flowers, following a $25-million restoration that involved almost complete disassembly and reconstruction. Erected in Golden Gate Parkin 1879, the city-owned Victorian-era greenhouse is the oldest public conservatory in the Western Hemisphere, but it has been closed since a fierce winter windstorm ripped through the 12,000-sq-ft redwood and glass structure in 1995. The storm shattered 40% of the glazing, damaged some of the structural components and destroyed a portion of the collection of rare tropical plants. But inspection of the building revealed that the conservatory had been deteriorating for years, exacerbated by a series of modifications and high humidity. Much of the wood was like "Swiss cheese," says Deborah Cooper, project manager for locally based design and conservation firm Architectural Resources Group.