First iron and glass giant. Crystal Palace by Joseph Paxton
24/10/2021.
[London] UK
metalocus, LUCÍA SERRANO
metalocus, LUCÍA SERRANO
At the beginning of the 19th century, at the time of industrialism, iron was the main building material in the most industrially developed countries. It was then that engineers began to stand out over architects for their generally massive works.
London's Crystal Palace, designed by Joseph Paxton, was located in the well-known central Hyde Park, where the 1851 World's Fair was held. But in 1854, the building was dismantled and moved to Upper Norwood, south London. The design was altered and its capacity expanded.
London's Crystal Palace, designed by Joseph Paxton, was located in the well-known central Hyde Park, where the 1851 World's Fair was held. But in 1854, the building was dismantled and moved to Upper Norwood, south London. The design was altered and its capacity expanded.
Crystal Palace by Joseph Paxton.
Crystal Palace by Joseph Paxton.
Crystal Palace by Joseph Paxton.
Construction. Crystal Palace by Joseph Paxton.
Construction. Crystal Palace by Joseph Paxton.
Interior. Crystal Palace by Joseph Paxton.
Interior. Crystal Palace by Joseph Paxton.
Site plan. Crystal Palace by Joseph Paxton.
First and second floor. Crystal Palace by Joseph Paxton.
Principal elevation sketch. Crystal Palace by Joseph Paxton.
After the exhibition at the Crystal Palace in London in 1851, several cities began to build these glass palaces dedicated to international exhibitions; Cities like Dublin, Munich, and New York built these magnificent buildings using iron as an innovative structural system.
The Crystal Palace was a project based on the influences that Joseph Paxton had from the greenhouses in Chatsworth Gardens when he was working as a gardener; there he experimented with iron and glass, acquiring an experience that is reflected in the Crystal Palace.
From the outside, the building was imposing with an appearance of 600m long by 120m wide and 34m high; while the interior was continuous and uninterrupted. Dominated by a large central corridor as the main axis, where on both sides it contained the exhibits.
The supporting structure is based on cast iron and wrought iron with a series of rows of pillars, aligned on the perimeter, generating porticoes that gave stability to the whole. You could also see the first lattice beams designed to minimize their weight, which was used to generate the different floors.
The figures during the construction of this structure were:
The Crystal Palace was a project based on the influences that Joseph Paxton had from the greenhouses in Chatsworth Gardens when he was working as a gardener; there he experimented with iron and glass, acquiring an experience that is reflected in the Crystal Palace.
From the outside, the building was imposing with an appearance of 600m long by 120m wide and 34m high; while the interior was continuous and uninterrupted. Dominated by a large central corridor as the main axis, where on both sides it contained the exhibits.
The supporting structure is based on cast iron and wrought iron with a series of rows of pillars, aligned on the perimeter, generating porticoes that gave stability to the whole. You could also see the first lattice beams designed to minimize their weight, which was used to generate the different floors.
The figures during the construction of this structure were:
• 3300 bearing columns.
• 3300 drainage pipes.
• 2224 main beams.
• 24 miles of wooden gutters.
• 3,800 tons of cast iron.
• 700 tons of wrought iron.
• 83,612 m2 of glass.
• 3300 drainage pipes.
• 2224 main beams.
• 24 miles of wooden gutters.
• 3,800 tons of cast iron.
• 700 tons of wrought iron.
• 83,612 m2 of glass.
Unfortunately, in 1936 the building was destroyed by fire, only two towers were left isolated from the main body of the building that survived the fire, but they were demolished in 1941 as they were considered a dangerous landmark for German bombers.
More information
Architects
Joseph Paxton.
Dates
Designed.- 1850. Year of construction.- 1851. Refurbished.- 1854.
Location
Hyde Park, London, UK.
Joseph Paxton
Joseph Paxton, English architect, landscape architect, illustrator, and naturalist, was born on 3 August 1801 into a Bedford peasant family. Now best known for his project for the Crystal Palace, he was a gardener under William George Cavendish at Chatsworth, Derbyshire and, at the age of twenty-three, became head gardener to the Duke and began his work as a builder of large glasshouses.
His works include numerous public and private gardens, notably those at Chatsworth, Crystal Palace, and Birkenhead.
Joseph Paxton died at Chatsworth on 8 June 1865.
His works include numerous public and private gardens, notably those at Chatsworth, Crystal Palace, and Birkenhead.
Joseph Paxton died at Chatsworth on 8 June 1865.
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