BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17982, 28 January 1924, Page 3

BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION.

A FIRST LOOK ROUND. Under the guidance of Mr O. MAyrton, F.11.L8.A., one of the architects of f.he British Empire Exhibition, a party of representatives of the architectural and building Press recently visited Wembley Park to observe the progress -svhich is being made with the Exhibition buildings, says the trated Carpenter and Builder/' As might be expected, very little is yet complete, but there is enough to enable the visitor to appreciate the immensity and complexity of the task which Mr Ayrton-'.-.nd his senior partner, Mr J. "W. Simpson, F.R.I-B-A., have in hand. In point of size there has never been anything approaching this Exhibition, with its fifteen miles of exhibits. Almost the only completed thing is the stadium, of which a good deal of information has already appeared in our columns and elsewhere. Here and now it is enough to record nn impression of a fine thing appropriately contrived for its special purpose—a piece of vigorous, masculine construction which has', moreover, a definitely architectural character. The main front of the stadium is one of the tew examples we have of successful concrete architecture. . , The use of concrete in the Wembley buildings is almost universal. it is dictated, no doubt, by various considerations, amongst which the shortage of skilled bricklavers is certainly one. The use of bricks is being kept to a minimum, because the building of the Exhibition is a .'tTiiggle- against time, and it is necessary to avoid having nll .y portion of the work held up for ivant of. skilled labour. Concrete construction can, of course, be carried out, as it is being carried out at Wembley, fiy unskilled' and semi-skilled labour, subject always to careful supervision. Three-inch breeze blocks witli cement facing are being made on the site and used in enormous numbers on the various buildings. Wembley is certainly th:- biggest example of concrete building we have yet had in this country. As far as can be seen, the bulk of the building is substantially constructed, notwithstanding its teniporarv character.

The'lay-out-of so gre.it an Exhibition is an essay in town-planning on a considerable s-nle. The stadium, which stands on the highest ground, is a dominating feature. A broad avenue faces it. arid runs direct to "Wembley Park Inhibition Station. ' At right angles it is-crossed by a broad thoroughfare and an artificial waterwav. which is spanned by picturesque light concrete bridges of .■} somewhat Japanese character. Tren.s have been retained wherever possible, and large numbers of young trees have been planted. Standing on the stadium terrace, facing the grand avenue, one sees immediately in front the buildings of Canada on the right and Australia on the left. Further on, on either side of the avenue, are two gigantic buildings—the Palace of Engineering and the Palace of Industry. The facades are of bold, trabeated construction of extreme simplicity, decorated only by a series of vigorously moulded lions' heads. The Palace of Engineering is probably the largest concrete building in the world. It has a floor space of over half a million square feet, The Palace of Industry is only a. little smaller. I?oth those great buildings are traversed by railway lines connecting with the main railways serving the Exhibition stations, and thus the heavy exhibits will Ix: quickly and easily placed in the positions, allotted for them.

The jSritish Government Pavilion, which, is not yet finished,, will apparently be nh impressive structure designed on classic lines; a wide flight of .'steps- lead between Hnnuing pavilions to a portico where huge square piers support a bold, unadorned entablature and pediment. Great sculptured lions will guard the entrance and provide a welcome toTich of symbolism and of decoration. Many of the buildings of the Dominions are being, carried out from the designs of their own architects. The-" are in various stages of development, but distinctive Eastern characteristics are apparent in the Indian and Burmese buildings, and the South African buildin", with its ' characteristic Dutch gables, stoep, and loggia, will be decidedlv suggestive of the Dominion it represents. The grey of the concrete, which at present is unrelieved by colour or ornament, gives a somewhat depressing air to a plan which is obviously designed to exhilarate and please. But this condition belongs solely to the unfinished exhibition. The grey concrete, it is true, will remain undisguised, but all over the exhibition will be brightly painted kiosks nnd other small patches of colour, which will show up all the more vividly acainst the prevailing neutral tint. The green of the grass and trees and the colour of flowers will also lend brightness to the scene. arrangements are bcin cr macle to enable visitors in vast numbers to traverse the many miles of the grounds and floor space and study at ease whatever section of the great show most appeals tn them. A never-stopping vailwnv will traverse the grounds, passing through the stations at the rate of two miles an, hour, and automatically gaining sneed ps it leaves them. The amusements! which are to he numerous and attractive, are w'sely r-T-niinpd together on the outer fringe of t*"> + inn. From mmy t-oints of ■.-;/•.,,- flip British Empire Exhibition "" 1924 is +o be a notable enterprise. There remains, of course, an enormous amnnnt o'' work to he done before the r— pniycq- dn\-. Imt S r> mich has rWndv b"en Mi--. r.7iT3jv.«iT."r"i ■ t"""t t'-i-ro '= cverv 7 -■-••, tn he'-v-. thct all will ha in readiness by April next.