GREAT EXHIBITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22659, 26 August 1935, Page 10

GREAT EXHIBITION

WORLD’S LARGEST FOR LONDON

Work was to have been commenced this month' on the £1,250,000 scheme at Earl’s court which will give London, by Christmas, 1936, what is claimed to be the world’s biggest permanent exhibition and large-scale entertainment centre. The building (says the Daily Telegraph) will house part .if the British Industries Fail early in 1937, and later the Ideal Home Exhibition, and the Motor Show. Arrangements were being made for a share issue. At the beginning of August th* new company, Earl’s Court, Ltd., was to take occupation of the old exhibition site of nearly 19 acres from the London Passenger Transport Board. The work will employ 2000 men.

Sir Ralph Glyn, M.P., chairman of the company, informed a Daily Telegraph representdtive that they hoped to provide good music, amusement and recreation on a scale which would be of real value for the physical development of the young.

Mr Lewis, the managing director, describing the architectural features of the scheme, said a concrete building SO feet high would be built, providing over 12 acres of exhibition space on two floors and seats for 25,000 people for sporting events or large-scale entertainments. In addition, the existing Empress Hall would be reconditioned for ice hockey, skating and other indoor sports. The ground floor will cover six and a-half acres—about three times the area of Trafalgar square—and two and a-half acres will not be broken by a single pillar. In this space will be made a swimming pool, 200 ft long and 100 ft wide, which can be quickly covered or uncovered. . For the first time in a large building in England interior flood lighting would ! e used throughout, and the whole colon*scheme could be changed by the turn of a switch. Projection machines would provide summer skies, clouds, stars, or landscapes as required. Other features of the scheme are: Quick service restaurants cantilevered over the roadway, so as to provide a shelter and save interior space. A private car park for 2000 vehicles, on two levels. Escalators into the building from a reconstructed Earl’s court station.. The structure will weigh 180,000 tons, and British materials are to be used wherever possible. The architect is American. Mr C. Howard Crane, and the engineer is Mr Oscar Faber, engineer of the new Bank of England building.