from the "Outer Space" section of the Dome of Discovery. By means of it, visitors in the Dome will be able to see and perhaps hear, radio waves from the sun, stars and even from the meteors, and themselves to transmit radio signals to the moon and observe their reflection back to the earth again after a few seconds.
The Royal Festival Hall (No. 27 on key map).
The only permanent building on the South Bank site will be the new LCC Concert Hall to be known as the Royal Festival Hall, which will be as prominent in the Downstream Sequence as the Dome of Discovery on the other side of Hungerford Bridge. The Royal Festival Hall itself, the entire responsibility of the LCC, will be a distinguished example of architectural construction and a striking feature of the Exhibi- tion site. During the opening months of the Exhibition, im- portant concerts in London's music programme will be given, which the Arts Council of Great Britain is helping to arrange. Plans are being made by the LCC in cooperation with the Festival Office for the use of the Hall throughout the Exhibition period.
Exhibition Services
The development of the South Bank site for exhibition purposes is being carried out in the closest collaboration witn the London County Council and with its future use in mind. Planning of roads, gas, water and electricity services, land- scapes and terracing is being carefully co-ordinated so that as much work as possible will have long-term value after the Exhibition has been dismantled.
HOW THE EXHIBITION WILL LOOK
The main buildings of the Exhibition, some thirty in all, including restaurants and administrative buildings, but exclud- ing the LCC Concert Hall, are to be temporary structures. They will be constructed of a wide variety of materials includ- ing steel, concrete, brick, wood, asbestos, glass, aluminium, fabrics of various kinds, etc.
The first impression of the Exhibition will be one of architectural contrast in colour and outline. The Upstream area, in keeping with its contents, will be formal in character, whereas the Downstream area will reflect its own more domestic theme. The same relationship between design and content will be extended to each individual pavilion.
The latest techniques of illumination, internal and external, will be used, some of them for the first time.
The open spaces between the pavilions will themselves provide opportunities for a display of landscape gardening which will include mature trees transplanted on to the site and ornamental water at many points.
ORGANISATION OF THE EXHIBITION
An enterprise as complex as the South Bank Exhibition is only possible if it is planned and mounted by a single authority. The prime responsibility for its success therefore rests with the Festival of Britain Office. The theme of the South Bank Exhibition has been devised and is being carried into visual effect by a team of experts representing science, architecture, exhibition technique and industrial design, known as the Presentation Panel. It meets under the chairmanship of the Director General of the Festival of Britain, and its names have already been published.
To ensure the proper representation of science and techno- logy, many leading scientists, industrialists, engineers and technicians have been consulted. Ali the factual material on which the designs will be based has been provided by the country's acknowledged experts. Sixteen specialist panels, whose members are all authorities in at least one of the main branches of science, advise the Council of Science and Tech- nology on the balanced selection which has to be made from the enormous range of British achievement.
The selection of all the currently manufactured exhibits, which will illustrate the many sections, is the responsibility of the Council of Industrial Design. The Council has during the past year been holding regular discussion with groups of manufacturers and representatives of Trade Associations to ensure that British industry's leading achievements shall be properly represented in the various sections of the Exhibition.
1
An artist's impression of the Two Level Entrance from Waterloo main station and underground to 1951 Exhibition, South Bank. Architect: Gordon Tait, F.R.I.B.A.
Unloading of the last two half-arches.
Tel. 30241
The last of five glued laminated parabolic Douglas Fir Arches fitted smoothly into position at the Waterloo Entrance to the Exhibition on 11th August, 1950. The timber was a gift to the Timber Development Association of England, who prepared the detailed design, from their brethren in the timber industry of British Columbia.
The arches are 60'0" high and 100′0′′ wide at the base the largest timber arches ever manu- factured in Europe. Each graceful unit is built up from 25 glued sections, and weighs 4 tons. They graphically illustrate the craftsmanship, attractive- ness and enormous possibilities of this form of built-up construction in timber.
The arches were manufactured by The Airscrew Company and Jiewood Ltd., in an aeroplane hangar at Weybridge.
The subject matter of this article was received through the courtesy of Mr. W. P. Montgomery, United Kingdom Trade Commissioner.
British Official Photographs-By permission
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