Iron and Steel

Innovations

• Skeletal cast iron and glass, inspiration of Amazonian Regia Lily, portable and cheap
• 2 train stations served it, didn't ned lights, curtain wall system- hanging verticle bays of glass
• Ridge and furrow system- Chatsworth House, shade clothes on ridges to maintain temp

Function

• Great Exhibition 1851- Albert showing off power of empire, 1500 contributions from countries
• 'Power and ingenuity' of Britain- only labelled with British owners, Elm tree in nave- symbol
• Egyptian temple, Roman statues (empire), Victoria and Albert opposite Cupid and Psyche

Reception

• Punch Magazine: 'place of very crystal', 6 million people (1/3 of pop) visited
• Richards: 'a kind of magical object' in the Times, compared to Arabian Nights
• But confusing layout, sold few catalogues, Ruskin: 'cucumber frame between two chimneys'
• Sibthrop: 'one of the greatest humbugs and absurdities', politictians condemned £26k cost

Innovations

• Tallest in world till Chrysler Building, 1000ft, pre-punched riveting (2.5 mill), assembled on site
• Support reduced to minumum for wind, on hydraulic jacks for movement, wrought iron v light
• 20 year life span, but strong and sturdy, decorative grillwork symmetry makes it look strong

Functions

• Symbol of technological power for 1889 World Fair, 100th Anniversary of the Revolution
• Re-asserting dominance after Franco-Prussian war, industrial power of 3rd Republic
• Builds upwards- overturns ideas of land ownership

Reception

• Eye sore during construction: 'tragic lampost', skeleton', 'belfry', writer dined on everyday so he didn't have to see it and Garier said it would ruin the skyline
• Public loved it, earned money back in a year, 6.8 million people visit/ year today

Description

• 230m cast iron barrel vaults, brick facade entrance unadorned allowing functional flow
• Iron ties support symmertrical roof, multiple arches- Romanesque order and harmony
• 'Satified by the largness of the features, fitness for prupose and expression of that purpose'

Innovations

• Largest station roof and station in London of time, modelled on Russian riding schools
• Architecture and engineering - ferrovitreous, Bessemer Process allowed for steel
• 1820-50 6000 miles of railway track, boosted economy, jobs, travels, goods

Function

• Largest goods handling areas in Britain- rapid transport of good and people, dual platform
• 'Functional simplicity' v. St. Pancras' 'fussiness', journey between two division between public decorated architecture and functional engineering
• Italiante clock tower- Albert's passion for Italianate designs of Prussian royalty, order and time