The greenhouses regain their splendor of the 1900s

The greenhouses at Fota House's world-renowned gardens have been restored to their former splendor using Accoya wood. The restoration project was commissioned by the Irish Heritage Trust after it acquired the estate in 2007. The 19th-century property in Cork, Ireland, was abandoned almost 40 years ago and had virtually fallen into disrepair.

Fota House is located just outside Cork city, near Cork Harbour, where variable weather continually affects local buildings. Accoya wood, supplied by Abbeywoods, was selected as the material of choice for the greenhouse restoration due to its renowned strength and stability in all weather conditions. 

The restoration of Fota House began over a year ago. The greenhouses were given paramount importance, as they embodied the horticultural heritage of the 1900s. The word 'Fota' itself, in traditional Gaelic, translates as 'warm land,' hence the presence of many exotically cultivated plants in the estate's gardens. It was here that, as early as 1840, the Smith-Barry family began planting the most exotic species. With the intention of restoring as much of the greenhouses' original historic atmosphere as possible, it was essential to retain most of the original construction.

The project to restore the three greenhouses proved to be more challenging than expected. It required a great deal of patience and attention to detail, as every element of the building had to be carefully documented before being dismantled. Furthermore, every element that could be reused had to be reused, making the process meticulous and time-consuming. However, the results were well worth the wait.

Some roof elements had to be replaced, but most were salvaged and carefully repaired. The rot was worst along the top edge of the rafters and at the butt joint where they joined the vertical window frames. The rot was removed from the beams, and skillfully notched Accoya splices were inserted. The traditional way to repair old beams is to make a new splice, label it, and send it off to be treated with a preservative before being returned and inserted. Using Accoya sped up and simplified the process by avoiding the need for preservation.

Accoya was also the obvious material for the parts that couldn't be reused. Not only for its aesthetic appeal, but also for its exceptional durability. Accoya wood created a visually beautiful construction that would last for decades. The wood guarantees a 50-year durability, a measure of rot resistance. These properties match or exceed those of the densest tropical hardwoods. Furthermore, its dimensional stability allowed the new finger joints to be inserted without the risk of differential movement that would make the joint lines visible through the paint.

Conservation architect John O'Connell and his team were responsible for the project, which, apart from the greenhouses, included four 1900s-era hothouses.. “Even before we started working on the project we knew it would be quite challenging. This time it was all about recreating the atmosphere of the 1900s and making sure we retained as much of the old structure as possible. It’s always easier to work on projects like this if the material used is as good as Accoya. We were under a lot of pressure, but it was a privilege to be part of such a historic project,” said John.

 The extraordinary work of the architects, construction specialists and highly skilled carpenters, as well as the use of white-coated Accoya wood, all contributed to transforming the old, ruined building into wonderful greenhouses that have regained their original essence. 

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For further information, an interview or high-resolution images, please contact Charlotte Fougères/Tom Niblett at Fuel PR on 020 7498 8211 or by email at charlotte@fuelrefuel.com / tom@fuelrefuel.com

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Notes to Editors:

 Accsys Technologies PLC (www.accsysplc.com) is a company whose business is primarily focused on the production of Accoya® wood and the licensing of technology through its subsidiary, Titan Wood Limited, whose production site is located in Arnhem, the Netherlands, the European office in London and the US office in Dallas, Texas. Accsys Technologies PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market and on the Euronext Amsterdam Exchange by Euronext NYSE, under the symbol 'AXS'. Accsys's operations comprise three main units: (i) the Accoya® wood production site; (ii) the Technology Development Division, which focuses on a program of continuous improvements to process engineering and operational protocols for the acetylation of wood, currently under development, as well as the development of technology for the acetylation of wood components; and (iii) the granting of licenses to use the technology for the production of Accoya® wood and Tricoya® wood elements throughout the world.

Medite Europe Ltd. (www.medite-europe.comMedite is part of the Coillte Panel Products company and is owned by Coillte, the Irish forest products company. Medite products are recognized as the benchmark for quality, consistency, and performance in the MDF sector, as well as for their certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Medite has positioned itself at the forefront of the market for technological innovation, introducing advancements such as mold resistance, fire retardancy, suitability for outdoor use, formaldehyde-free MDF, and high-quality wood varieties for flooring, while its innovation program is ongoing.



Coillte Panel Products (www.coillte.ie) is a major and powerful player in the European market for composite wood panels. Its Medite MDF and SmartPly OSB brands are FSC certified, which differentiates them from several competing and substitute products and makes them capable of meeting the environmental standards that are becoming increasingly important for designers, standards-setting engineers, architects and clients for both categories of projects, both public and private.

Acetylation of wood is a process that increases the amount of 'acetyl' molecules in wood, thus changing its physical properties. The process protects the wood from rot by making it inedible to most microorganisms and fungi, without making it toxic—unlike conventional treatments. This process significantly reduces the wood's tendency to swell and shrink, making it less prone to cracking, and dramatically reducing maintenance after staining.



Wood Accoya® (www.accoya.comAccoya® is produced using a patented process that efficiently converts sustainably sourced softwood and non-sustainable hardwood into what is aptly described as "high-tech wood." Distinguished by its wear resistance, dimensional stability, and perhaps most importantly, its reliability (in terms of both consistent supply and quality), Accoya® is particularly well-suited for outdoor applications where performance and appearance are valued. Unlike most tropical and European hardwoods, its color does not fade when exposed to ultraviolet rays. Furthermore, the Accoya® production process does not compromise the wood's rigidity or its workability. The combination of UV resistance, dimensional stability, wear resistance, and retained rigidity means that Accoya® wood offers a wealth of new opportunities for architects, designers, and engineers who set the standards. For shipbuilding applications, where weight is also critical, Accoya® wood provides shipbuilders, for the first time, with a wood that is strong, lightweight, and retains its natural beauty for much longer. To access the complete Accoya® news archive, log in to www.accoya.com/news.asp.



Meditate Tricoya® combines technologies from the two partners who signed the JDA agreement in London in June 2009.

Scion (www.scionresearch.com)

Scion is a Royal New Zealand Research Institute that undertakes the development of research, science and technology in forestry, wood products, biomaterials and bioenergy. Scion's work contributes to beneficial economic, environmental and social outcomes for New Zealand. Formerly the New Zealand Forest Research Institute, Scion employs approximately 340 people and is headquartered in Rotorua. For more information, please visit www.scionresearch.com



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