Sunrooms have a surprisingly long and storied past that stretches back thousands of years. While the purpose of sunrooms changes rather drastically from society to society in history, they have existed for a long-time with a running theme of solar heating. Here are a few moments in history where sunrooms really shined.
- 6000 BCE: Starting upwards of 8000 years ago in China, sunrooms began being used to warm homes. Homes were specifically built facing South to capture the heat of the sun to be enjoyed in the sunroom, as well as spread to the rest of the home.
- 13th Century Italy: Sunrooms began popping up in Italy at this time to act almost as greenhouses. They would capture and store warmth so that plants inside that needed a more temperate climate could grow. This tradition also spread to Korea within a century or two.
- 17th Century England: The technology grew further, and sunrooms started to add windows as glass became more common. This allowed for a better transfer of heat and a more stable interior temperature, making them perfect for growing plants and capturing warmth in the colder months.
- 20th Century: Sunrooms as we know them now started growing in popularity after World War II. They allow for a sunny and warm room in your house that can be great for thriving houseplants or simply enjoying some brightness and warmth during the day.
Sunrooms have a surprisingly rich and long history in human society, and it all culminates in our sunrooms here today. Technology and styles always improve, so it is yet to be seen what the next big step in sunroom design will be, and what sunrooms will look like in the future.