CRYSTAL PALACE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 63, 15 March 1945, Page 5

CRYSTAL PALACE

POST-WAR LAY-OUT

COMPETITIVE DESIGNS

O.C. LONDON, January 4. When restored and developed as "a place for education and recreation, and for the promotion if industry, commerce, and art," the Crystal Palace will not be a "glass palace." At least that is the intention of the trustees and C.E.M.A., which jointly are shortly to invite architects and town planners to submit designs in competition for the! lay-out of the new palace and its surIroundings, so that the possibilities of! development of the site at an early date may be fully explored. The author of the design placed first by the assessors will receive a premium of £2000, and £750 and £500 will be awarded respectively for the designs placed second and third. The assessors are Professor Patrick Abercrombie, Dr. Charles Holden, and Mr. Alister Mac Donald, all F.R1..8.A.5, Sir Kenneth Clark, and Mr. L. Silkin, M.P., and they may award a further £500 at their discretion for other designs of particular merit. Within the 200 acres comprising the site competitors are required to place an open free public park of 70 acres, but it is hoped that the whole area will not be unduly divided into two obviously separate sections. Though; neither the Maze nor any existing i buildings need be retained, the grounds I must be attractive and full of interest to visitors. Advantage is to be taken of the existing levels and general formation, but competitors may exercise their imaginations on the lay-out in order to provide a pleasant and varied assembly of features having a wide appeal to all classes and interests. ART AND SPORT. Catering for various types of recreational and cultural activity, the new Crystal Palace will have exhibitions and entertainments that will range from fun fairs to chamber music concerts and from Punch and Judy shows to grand opera, and it is also intended to continue the fireworks displays. Consideration of methods which will not compete with housing and school building programmes is urged, and, pointing out that they do not have in mind the building of a "glass palace," the promoters recall that the upkeep of the old palace was costly, the amount of heating required being too exces-' sive for the cubic contents. The planning of the various parts and of the flow of traffic must be on a scale to deal with 150,000 persons a day paying to enter the buildings and grounds. In the area once covered by the old buildings there will be an amphitheatre seating 8000 to 10,000 persons and designed for entertainments such as circuses and boxing tournaments in the central arena, or big music festivals with massed bands or choirs; a large theatre for opera or ballet with 2500 seats; another theatre with 1000 to 1500 seats; two concert halls, one to seat 4000 and the other (with cinematograph facilities) with 1500 seats; a self-contained dance hall with facilities for 1500 persons; and a sports hall to include a large swimming pool and an ice skating rink, each to take international matches, a dance hall for 1500 persons, accommodation for 12 squash and six badminton courts, a hall for gymnastic displays, and suitable snack bar and lavatory accommodation. A STADIUM FOR 100,000. A suite of state rooms for the reception of distinguished visitors must be placed in a commanding position, and it is emphasised that, centrally, there must be as much space as possible for exhibition halls, capable of subdivision into large and small, sized areas, to house great events such as the British Industries Fair, or a series of small trade or livestock shows. These buildings, which should be low, may feature roof gardens. Various types of restaurants seating in all up to 3000 persons should be well spread out. Somewhere in the grounds there must. be. a stadium to accommodate 100,000 spectators, as well as an amusement centre (preferably in the public park) and additional restaurants. While still within the boundary of the site, ample provision for car parking must so far as possible be out of sight.

The assessors are not asking for detailed plans of any of the buildings, only for a general lay-out of co-ordin-ated buildings, and they state that it should be possible in a scientific and architectural manner to use movable screens and false ceilings and enlarge or decrease the size of an auditorium or exhibition space without detracting from .a well-balanced main group of buildings. The work of the successful competitor will be placed at the disposal of whatever body may ultimately be responsible for redevelopment in the hope that it will share the views of the promoters of the competition as to the merits of the winning design.