The third glasshouse welcomed to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in 1987, is named for an 18th-century princess of Wales, Augusta of Saxe-Gotha (1719-1772), the mother of King George III, under whose hand the Royal Botanic Gardens took shape in the 18th-century. Kew honored this history by having a 20th-century princess of Wales, Diana, open the conservatory in 1987!

This was the first glasshouse to be built in more than 120 years! According to Alan and Nancy in their latest book, The Conservatory: Gardens Under Glass, “The Princess of Wales Conservatory would break new ground in glasshouse design and construction by making energy conservation integral to its design.”

Architect Gordon Wilson (1939 - ) took his cues from the vegetation within. The building mimics plant life, harvesting the sun, wind, rain, and warmth of the earth with an assist from climate control software. Within the conservatory, pathways meander through ten climatic zones, a revolutionary design approach at the time. Rainwater is collected for irrigation and the floor sits partially below ground to conserve heat. Plants requiring a cooler climate are positioned along the exterior walls, where the ambient temperature is lower.

In recognition of its energy-conscious design, the conservatory received the Europa Nostra award for conservatory in 1989! This award highlights the shifting role of the conservatory from botanical showplace to modern research institution.