DOI Heft:
No. 374 (May 1924)
DOI Artikel:Brangwyn, Frank: The architecture of the British Empire Exhibition
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21399#0269
ARCHITECTURE OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION
Continental undertakings, but it achieved a
degree of genuine interest and distinction
never, up to the present, approached in
this country, m a a a a
The vast undertaking at Wembley has
provided Messrs. Simpson and Ayrton,
the architects entrusted with the general
lay-out of the exhibition and the design
of the principal buildings, with a great
opportunity of retrieving our reputa-
tion. Opinions will differ as to the de-
gree of success which has attended their
efforts, but their achievement, though in
some respects controversial, is undoubtedly
distinguished and arresting. They have
approached their task with imagination
and courage, in some respects departing
definitely from precedents. The buildings
they have erected, in their most essential
features, emphasise the changes which
have taken place, of late years, in archi-
tectural outlook and constructional
methods and must primarily be regarded
as a most important and significant
250
BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION, THE ROYAL BOX AT
THE STADIUM. ARCHITECTS, MESSRS. SIMPSON
AND AYRTON. DRAWING BY K. MURRAY
recognition of the claims of reinforced
concrete to free outward expression.
Many attempts have been made, so far
with little success in this country, to
reconcile the conditions of rapidly chang-
ing building devices with inherited archi-
tectural formulae which, in their inception
were the natural expression of entirely
different methods of construction. To
American architects must be given the
credit for the most enlightened and enter-
prising attempts to handle concrete in an
honest and convincing fashion, with an
unprejudiced recognition of its aesthetic
possibilities. The best of their modern
buildings are distinguished by a breadth
of vision and boldness of conception rarely
seen in the work of our own designers. So
far as this country is concerned, Mr.
Ayrton’s achievement at Wembley is un-
doubtedly the most important and valuable
contribution to the problem which has,
so far, been forthcoming. His work will
no doubt be viewed with suspicion and
Continental undertakings, but it achieved a
degree of genuine interest and distinction
never, up to the present, approached in
this country, m a a a a
The vast undertaking at Wembley has
provided Messrs. Simpson and Ayrton,
the architects entrusted with the general
lay-out of the exhibition and the design
of the principal buildings, with a great
opportunity of retrieving our reputa-
tion. Opinions will differ as to the de-
gree of success which has attended their
efforts, but their achievement, though in
some respects controversial, is undoubtedly
distinguished and arresting. They have
approached their task with imagination
and courage, in some respects departing
definitely from precedents. The buildings
they have erected, in their most essential
features, emphasise the changes which
have taken place, of late years, in archi-
tectural outlook and constructional
methods and must primarily be regarded
as a most important and significant
250
BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION, THE ROYAL BOX AT
THE STADIUM. ARCHITECTS, MESSRS. SIMPSON
AND AYRTON. DRAWING BY K. MURRAY
recognition of the claims of reinforced
concrete to free outward expression.
Many attempts have been made, so far
with little success in this country, to
reconcile the conditions of rapidly chang-
ing building devices with inherited archi-
tectural formulae which, in their inception
were the natural expression of entirely
different methods of construction. To
American architects must be given the
credit for the most enlightened and enter-
prising attempts to handle concrete in an
honest and convincing fashion, with an
unprejudiced recognition of its aesthetic
possibilities. The best of their modern
buildings are distinguished by a breadth
of vision and boldness of conception rarely
seen in the work of our own designers. So
far as this country is concerned, Mr.
Ayrton’s achievement at Wembley is un-
doubtedly the most important and valuable
contribution to the problem which has,
so far, been forthcoming. His work will
no doubt be viewed with suspicion and