The Palm Houses restoration
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Following a once-in-a-generation restoration through the Edinburgh Biomes project, the Palm Houses are reopening this October - one of the Garden's most treasured spaces, restored for a new generation of visitors.
Located in the heart of the Garden, the Palm Houses are amongst the finest surviving examples of 19th century glasshouse design in the world. However, nearly two centuries of Scotland's climate had taken their toll: corroding ironwork, ageing glass and deteriorating sandstone threatened both the buildings and the more tender species of the Garden's Living Collection of plants living inside them. Restoring the A-listed structures while protecting the collection was at the centre of the project.
Caring for the Living Collection
Before work began, every plant was assessed, recorded and carefully moved by the Horticulture team - from towering palms to delicate ferns, many irreplaceable and cared for by the Garden for generations. During the restoration work, they were temporarily rehoused in other Glasshouses on-site and monitored throughout, while the project also gave the team a rare chance to rethink how the Palm House Collection is displayed, creating a rich botanical display of palms, ferns and species such as Begonia, key to the Garden's core research.
The restoration carefully balanced historic craftsmanship with modern conservation techniques, ensuring the Palm Houses remain both an architectural landmark and a thriving home for one of the world's most important living plant collections.
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Restoring the Palm Houses
Specialist teams repaired the historic ironwork, conserved the sandstone and replaced thousands of panes of glass, strengthening the structures while preserving their 19th century character. Modern environmental systems have been discreetly integrated behind the scenes, giving the Living Collection more stable conditions for the century ahead.
What visitors will notice
When the Palm Houses reopen, visitors will experience both buildings as one continuous space for the first time in decades. The removal of the central partition creates dramatic new views through the buildings, and reveals the smaller Palm House from the visitor route for the first time.
Look up to admire thousands of new panes of glass, ready once again to flood the interiors with natural light. Look closer and you'll discover carefully conserved ironwork and stonework sitting alongside flourishing plant displays now returned to their historic home.
New interpretation throughout the Palm Houses will reveal the stories behind the remarkable plants, the people who care for them, and the work that continues long after the restoration is complete.