About Solariums
A sunny solarium can provide comfort in the harsh winter months, especially if the room utilizes the solar energy for maintaining the room's heat when the sun sets. In desert states such as Arizona, the room is uninhabitable during the summer months. With temperatures soaring far above 100 degrees, it is often impossible to cool the room. Does this Spark an idea?
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Identification
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A solarium typically refers to a sunroom or greenhouse room, where walls or ceilings are made of glass and designed to let in sunshine. In different regions they might have different names. For example, in Arizona, a similar room is called an Arizona room, or in Florida, a Florida room. Some manufacturers sell solarium prefabrication kits as room additions.
Function
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Although a solarium is a room similar in appearance to a sunroom or greenhouse room, its use or the perception of that room may be different. For example, a greenhouse room is associated with a primary use for indoor gardening. A sunroom, such as an Arizona room or Florida room, might be used primarily as an indoor patio. A solarium is often considered as a room that is used as a retreat, a room filled with sunshine and solitude. It might be a room where one goes to read, enjoy a quiet cup of tea or tend a few favorite plants.
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Function
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The name of a room will usually describe its use more than its physicality. For example, imagine three people who own identical houses in the same neighborhood, each with an identical room facing the front street. The first neighbor calls the room the library. His neighbor refers to the room as a parlor, and the third neighbor calls the room a den. At one time sunrooms were called conservatories. They were places where residents enjoyed the sun in the winter months. What was once called a conservatory might today be deemed a solarium.
Types
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It is not uncommon for a university or institution to have a room they refer to as a solarium. This might be a room that looks like a greenhouse room, with glass walls and ceiling, or it may be an airy room with many windows. A solarium might be an enclosed glass patio or an exterior room with large widows. Hospitals often have solariums, which patients can use for therapeutic sunbathing.
History
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The White House has a room that is called the Solarium or Sun Room. President William Howard Taft added the room to the White House in the early 20th century, as a "sleeping porch" that provided a cool retreat for the hot nights of summer.
The room was remodeled in 1927 and the first lady at the time, Grace Coolidge, called it the Sky Parlor.
During President John F. Kennedy's era, the room was used as a schoolroom for Caroline Kennedy.
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Resources
- Photo Credit A. Johnson
