Contemporary vs Traditional Orangery: What Is the Difference?
Two approaches to the same structure
Both contemporary and traditional orangeries share the same fundamental characteristics — masonry pillars, a flat solid roof perimeter, and a central glazed lantern. What distinguishes them is the architectural language used to express those elements: the proportions, the materials, the glazing profile, and the way the structure relates to the existing property.
The choice between contemporary and traditional is not simply aesthetic preference. It is a decision about how the orangery sits within its architectural context, what materials and detailing are appropriate for your property, and how you want the finished space to feel from both inside and outside.
The Traditional Orangery
The traditional orangery draws directly from the historical origins of the form — the grand orangeries built across Europe from the 17th century onwards for growing citrus fruits and exotic plants. Traditional orangeries are characterised by classical proportions, ornamental pilaster detailing, decorative cornice mouldings, and sash or casement glazing with fine bar profiles that reference Georgian and Victorian window design.
Materials in a traditional orangery are typically brick or stone to match the existing property, with timber or high-quality painted aluminium for the glazing frames. The roof lantern incorporates classical detailing — dentil mouldings, pitched glazing bars, decorative ridge caps — that give it architectural presence from the garden as well as from within.
A traditional orangery is the natural choice for period properties: Victorian and Edwardian terraces, Edwardian semis, Georgian townhouses, and the kind of large, brick-built Surrey detached homes that predominate in villages like East Horsley, Oxshott, Cobham and Esher. Its classical language is sympathetic to the architecture it is attached to, and it reads as an addition that belongs — not one that has been grafted on.
Surrey Orangery builds traditional orangeries as one of its core products, with a full range of pilaster, cornice and lantern detailing options.
The Contemporary Orangery
The contemporary orangery retains the defining structural characteristics of the form — the masonry base, the flat roof perimeter, the central lantern — but expresses them through a clean, minimal architectural language. Decorative mouldings and ornamental detailing are removed or reduced to their structural essentials. Glazing profiles are slim and flush. The lantern is a precise, geometric form rather than a pitched classical structure. Colour is typically monochrome — black, anthracite grey, or white — rather than the heritage tones of a traditional build.
Materials in a contemporary orangery often include rendered or fair-faced blockwork, powder-coated aluminium for all glazing, and flat or minimal-profile roof finishes. The visual language is architectural and deliberate — these are structures that are designed to be seen as a considered addition, not a historical pastiche.
A contemporary orangery is the natural choice for modern properties built from the 1970s onwards, for post-war detached houses, and increasingly for period properties where the owner wants to make a deliberate architectural statement rather than a contextual one. Surrey Orangery builds contemporary orangeries across the county, and the contrast between a sleek modern structure and a Victorian or Edwardian host building is often highly effective when executed well.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Traditional Orangery | Contemporary Orangery |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural style | Classical — pilasters, cornices, ornamental detail | Minimal — clean lines, flush profiles, no ornament |
| Glazing frames | Timber or heritage aluminium, fine bar profiles | Slim powder-coated aluminium, typically black or anthracite |
| Roof lantern | Pitched, with decorative ridge and bar detail | Flat or low-pitch, geometric, minimal profile |
| Materials | Brick or stone to match property, heritage colours | Render, brick or stone — often contrasting with host |
| Best suited to | Victorian, Edwardian, Georgian, period properties | Modern builds, post-war, or deliberate contrast on period homes |
| Interior feel | Warm, classical, architectural heritage | Crisp, light, architecturally precise |
The Fascia Orangery
Surrey Orangery also builds fascia orangeries — a variation that sits between the traditional and contemporary forms. The fascia orangery uses a deep external pelmet or fascia board at the roofline, creating the visual impression of a solid roof perimeter without the full masonry construction. This allows a lantern-topped, light-filled space to be achieved at a more accessible cost, and is particularly effective on properties where a full masonry orangery would be disproportionate in scale.
The fascia orangery can be detailed in either a traditional or contemporary idiom, making it one of the most flexible options in the Surrey Orangery range.
How to Choose
The starting point is always the host property. Walk around the outside of your house and look at the materials, the window proportions, the roof pitch, and the level of decorative detail. A Victorian house with ornate brickwork, sash windows and a steep tiled roof is calling for a traditional orangery. A 1980s brick detached with aluminium windows and a low-pitch roof is calling for a contemporary treatment.
The second consideration is the internal character you want to create. Traditional orangeries tend to feel warmer and more architectural — the classical detailing creates shadow lines, visual depth and a sense of permanence. Contemporary orangeries tend to feel crisper and more expansive — the minimal frames maximise light, and the clean geometry creates a sense of space.
Surrey Orangery’s design team works with every client to determine which approach is right for the property and the homeowner’s brief. Every project begins with a free home visit, during which we assess the property, discuss the options, and provide our recommendation before any commitment is made.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is more expensive — contemporary or traditional?
Both are comparable in cost at equivalent sizes and specifications. Contemporary glazing systems in slim aluminium can sometimes cost more than traditional timber equivalents, while traditional ornamental mouldings and cornice work add their own premium. The specification choices within each style have more impact on final cost than the choice of style itself.
Can a contemporary orangery be added to a period property?
Yes, and it can be highly effective when done well. A deliberately contemporary orangery on a Victorian house creates a clear architectural dialogue between old and new — a design choice that many architects and planning officers respond positively to. Surrey Orangery has completed contemporary orangeries on period properties across Surrey and can advise on what will work for your specific situation.
What is a fascia orangery?
A fascia orangery uses a deep external pelmet or fascia board to create the visual impression of a solid flat roof perimeter, with a glazed lantern above. It is a more accessible version of the full masonry orangery and can be detailed in either traditional or contemporary style.
Does the style of orangery affect planning permission?
The planning rules are the same regardless of style — both traditional and contemporary orangeries are classified as single-storey extensions under permitted development. In conservation areas, the local authority may have a view on which style is more appropriate. Surrey Orangery assesses this on every project.
