Rights Managed > Historic England > Industry > Engineering and Construction > Building the Commonwealth Institute
Copper sheeting JLP01_08_062291a
Filename: jlp01_08_062291a.jpg
Size: 4013 x 5569 (2.7MB)
Date: 8th February 2022
Source: Historic England
Credit: A© Historic England Archive. Joh
Copyright Status: Copyrighted Work
Source: Historic England Archive
Owner URL: https://images.historicenglandservices.org.uk/
© Historic England Archive
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Historic England
Copper sheeting JLP01_08_062291a
COMMONWEALTH INSTITUTE, KENSINGTON HIGH STREET, KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA, GREATER LONDON. Workers laying the outer skin of copper sheeting to weatherproof the exhibition hall roof at the Commonwealth Institute.
Laing built the Commonwealth Institute between October 1960 and October 1962 to replace the former Imperial Institute that was to be demolished to make way for new facilities at Imperial College. The building consisted of a four-storey administrative block housing a library, restaurant, board room and conference hall and a separate two-storey b lock containing a cinema with an art gallery above, but the focus of the project was the exhibition hall with its hyperbolic paraboloid roof, the first of its kind constructed in Great Britain. The exhibition, designed by James Gardner, provided spaces where each of the Commonwealth nations could showcase their achievements and characteristics, primarily to school children as teaching aids to enliven history and geography lessons.
The shell arch of the central roof section was of reinforced concrete, cast in situ using timber formwork with rough sawn boards to provide a textured internal surface whilst the four outer " warps" were constructed using precast beams and wood wool slabs, blocks of shredded timber bound together in a cement paste and left visible from the interior. The entire roof was then clad in copper sheeting over a layer of vermiculite. It covers an area of 33, 700sqft, 183 feet square with the central section 93 feet square and ranges between 30ft high at its lowest and 80ft at the peaks
Historic England is the public body that champions and protects England's historic places
Media ID 24320086
© Historic England Archive
1960s Construction Curves Exhibition Hall People Roof Work Angles
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures the intricate process of laying copper sheeting to weatherproof the exhibition hall roof at the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington and Chelsea, Greater London. The construction of this iconic building took place between October 1960 and October 1962, replacing the former Imperial Institute. Laing, the renowned construction company, undertook this ambitious project which featured a four-storey administrative block housing various facilities such as a library, restaurant, board room, and conference hall. Additionally, there was a separate two-storey block that housed a cinema with an art gallery above. However, it was the exhibition hall with its unique hyperbolic paraboloid roof that stole the spotlight. This groundbreaking design was the first of its kind in Great Britain. The central section of the roof boasted a shell arch made from reinforced concrete cast in situ using timber formwork. The interior surface had rough sawn boards for added texture while precast beams and wood wool slabs were used for constructing the outer "warps". These warps consisted of blocks of shredded timber bound together with cement paste and left visible from inside. To complete this architectural marvel's exterior look, copper sheeting was meticulously laid over a layer of vermiculite across its vast area spanning 33,700 square feet. With dimensions reaching up to 80 feet high at its peaks and featuring stunning geometric patterns throughout its structure, this photograph beautifully showcases both craftsmanship and innovation within historical architecture.
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