A greenhouse called “Daeonsil” at Changgyeonggung reopened to the public Friday after a 15-month makeover.

Daeonsil was built in 1907 as the first modern Western-style greenhouse of its kind in the nation. Its elegant glass structure is indicative of the then-popular Victorian style represented by the likes of the Crystal Palace, which housed expositions across Europe and America from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. 

The greenhouse was built by a French company according to a design by Hayato Fukuba, the chairman of Tokyo’s Shinjuku Imperial Garden.

During the renovation works, the initial prototype of tiles used on the floor was identified. New tiles to replace the old ones were produced through restoration based on an original manual from the British producer of the tile in 1905.

Following the reopening of Daeonsil, its managing authority, the Cultural Heritage Administration, announced plans to hold events and exhibitions at the newly renovated greenhouse. 

(mjk625@heraldcorp.com)