Crystal Palace To Be Rebuilt

Built for the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London's Hyde Park, Joseph Paxton's Crystal Palace is considered one of the most important 19th-century structures; its expansive glass enclosure and lightweight structure strongly influenced modern architecture. Its popularity at the time (6 million visitors in the exhibition's 5 months) led to its re-erection in 1854 in Crystal Palace Park, constructed by Paxton himself in southeast London. The second-generation structure was destroyed by fire in 1936, but a £500 million ($800 million) investment promise from China's ZhongRhong International Group will enable a third incarnation for the famous structure.

Design of The Crystal Palace is being headed by Arup, whose plans include the restoration of the park's landscape as well as reconstruction of the palace at the size and scale of the original. With the support of London Mayor Boris Johnson the project is moving toward a completion date of 2018.