Crystal Palace
notes.
- Plant conservatory becomes a part of the house.
- John Paxton born into a farming family. No formal education.
- He begins to experiment with methods of growing. Analytical observation to diagnose the
best manner.
- He is also a gifted draftsman. He draws to document his research.
- His skill is recognized. He is hired to maintain estate farms.
- Although he is not trained as an architect or claims to be an architect he is sought
after to design buildings.
- Designs "Long House" at Chatsworth. He prefers wood for his sash bars because
he is able to experiment with it at his woodshop.
- Designs "the Great Conservatory" at Chatsworth. Cast iron frame with a glazed
skin. Has a resemblance to the Palm House at Kew Gardens by Turner.
- Paxton is interested in separating skeleton and enclosure, refers to it as "the
table and the table cloth".
- Invents the "ridge and furrow" system. Creates high and low points creating a
parallel ridge which allows drainage to flow into the low furrows. Sash bars are designed
in a chevron pattern to shed water.
- Giant lily pad acquired by the duke. A special green house is created to control
temperature, light and water movement. The structure is called the Victoria Regia House.
- The building is a masonry base with cast iron structure. Roof is composed of ridges and
furrows.
- The necessity of producing the building quickly causes Paxton to create a structure that
was simple and quick to construct.
- An international world fair is proposed by Henry Cole. The intent is to display works of
industry to show off England’s prowess. Cole gets the backing of Prince Albert.
- Stipulations requires a formal group organization, they establishes their own funding
and a charter of their intent. Albert offers the group a plot of land but states that the
site must be restored to its original condition.
- January 21, 1850, the royal commission is created to create the Crystal Palace. Building
is intended to open by May 1851.
- A competition is advertised on March 1850 for building. Commission not given out upon
initial competition. Two projects selected for ‘special mention’.
- After rejecting all the proposals, the commission designs its own solution.
The commissions proposal however is brick and does not meet its own requirements. The
brick building would not be able to built in time because of the time required to erect a
brick building, particularly during the win
See additional Lecture notes. |
