Historical digital reconstruction and interpretation

The Crystal Palace

was a cast iron and plate glass structure originally built in Hyde Park to house the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Designed by garden designer Joseph Paxton it was an early example of mass production and modular design in architecture.
Being three times larger than St Pauls Cathedral it was able to house more than 14000 exhibitors from around the world.
After the Great Exhibition had finished the building was moved to Sydenham Hill in South London where it remained until it was destroyed by fire in 1936.

historic reconstruction and illustration

This reconstruction has been modelled on the building as it was at Sydenham Hill in South London.
The image is portraying an event which took place at Crystal Palace Park in 1900 ‘The Festival of Balloons’.
Along with the balloons there are other contemporary vehicles on exhibit such as an early aeroplane and a contemporary car.
Food stalls and street performers can be seen occupying the centre of the image.

close ups showing some of the detail in this image