Originally constructed in 1864 by engineer John Kibble at his home in Coulport, Kibble Palace was dismantled and shipped up the Clyde in 1873, where it was rebuilt and presented to the Royal Botanic Institution. Today it houses an extensive collection of plants and ferns from across the globe.

The project to renovate Kibble Palace involved completely dismantling the structure to allow for repairs and conservation before the panels could be reassembled. Part of the restoration will include removing the badly corroded steel frames and replacing them with iron.

In addition to restoring the exterior, a new building management system was introduced and the floor arrangement modified to allow better access to the greenhouse. The greenhouse itself utilises the most sustainable and energy efficient systems available, including biomass heat generation and rainwater harvesting to help water the many hundreds of rare plants within the palace.

Date: Ongoing