Main author
Michael BrooksDunmore Pineapple
The Dunmore Pineapple is an 18th century summerhouse building with a giant stone pineapple as its central architectural feature. It is located in Dunmore Park, in Stirlingshire, Scotland, and has been described as one of the United Kingdom's greatest follies, and 'the most bizarre building in Scotland'.
The two-storey building contained a hothouse and was built around the time of 1761 by John Murray, the 4th Earl of Dunmore. The hothouse was used, among other things, for growing pineapples which were considered to be exotic fruit that travelers to the Indies and America would bring back as trophies.
The pineapple is around 14 m high and is intricately carved in stone to form an elaborate cupola on top of an octagonal pavilion. Conventional architraves put out shoots and end as stone-shaped 'prickly leaves'. According to its intended purpose as a hothouse, the walls are of double construction with a cavity for the circulation of hot air.
The stones are graded in such a way that water cannot collect anywhere. The base of each leaf is in fact higher than it appears when viewed from below, so that the rainwater drains away easily from the higher parts.
The Dunmore Estate was broken up and sold in 1970. The lot that contained the summerhouse and large walled garden was given to the National Trust for Scotland. They in turn, leased it to the Landmark Trust who set about restoring the building. In 2014, they made the building available to the public as rentable holiday accommodation.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
IHBC NewsBlog
Church architecture awards 2024: now open
The National Churches Trust has announced three awards, all of which are run in partnership with the Ecclesiastical Architects & Surveyors Association (EASA).
The essential sector guide includes officers' updates and a foreword by EH Chair Gerard Lemos.
Historic England opens nominations for the National Blue Plaque Scheme
The scheme is open to nominations to celebrate people from all walks of life.
Striking photos show nature reclaiming brutalist concrete
‘Brutalist Plants’ explores nature’s links to the architectural style characterised by imposing form and exposed concrete.
Purcell’s guidance on RAAC for Listed Buildings in England & Wales
The guidance specifically focuses on Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in listed buildings.
IHBC Membership Journal Context - Latest Issue on 'Hadrian's Wall' Published
The issue includes takes on the wall 'end-to-end' including 'the man who saved it'.
Heritage Building Retrofit Toolkit developed by City of London and Purcell
The toolkit is designed to provide clear and actionable guidance for owners, occupiers and caretakers of historic and listed buildings.
70 countries sign Declaration de Chaillot at Buildings & Climate Global Forum
The declaration is a foundational document enabling progress towards a ‘rapid, fair, and effective transition of the buildings sector’
Bookings open for IHBC Annual School 12-15 June 2024
Theme: Place and Building Care - Finance, Policy and People in Conservation Practice
Rare Sliding Canal Bridge in the UK gets a Major Update
A moveable rail bridge over the Stainforth and Keadby Canal in the Midlands in England has been completely overhauled.