AtkinsRéalis and RBGE are delighted to host Women in Property to give an exclusive tour of the Victorian Palm House restoration project as it nears completion.

The Category A Listed Palm Houses at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh are outstanding examples of Victorian engineering. They combine innovative technology and classical architectural language into a remarkably slender and transparent structure that is both functional and decorative.

The recently completed restoration employed best practice conservation standards combined with sensitive changes to allow the buildings to continue to fulfil their original function in a modern context. Led by AtkinsRéalis as Project Managers, the works covered stonework conservation—including reinstatement of the massive stone cornice—ironwork conservation, replacement of all the glass, and interventions to improve resilience to climate change. Re planting inside the Palm Houses has now begun.

Jamie Bateman, Conservation Architect and Director at Smith Scott Mullan, will describe how a thorough understanding of the history and significance of the Palm Houses informed the approach to conservation, the modern interventions, and the balance between retention of original fabric and replacement to reinstate the original appearance.

Please join us for coffee and breakfast at 9am and site visit at 10am.

This is a member exclusive event.

Registration Deadline: 28 April 2026

Event Contact: Events Team