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Greater London, Hammersmith And Fulham, Hammersmith, Olympia Grand Hall

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Exhibition Hall (20th Century)

Site Name Greater London, Hammersmith And Fulham, Hammersmith, Olympia Grand Hall

Classification Exhibition Hall (20th Century)

Alternative Name(s) British Industries Fair

Canmore ID 284758

Site Number TQ27NW 1

NGR TQ 2420 7900

NGR Description Centred on TQ 2420 7900

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/284758

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Digital Images

London, Olympia, 1948 British Industries Fair. Presentation perspective of ICI exhibition stand.
London, Olympia, 1948 British Industries Fair. Presentation perspective of ICI exhibition stand.London, Olympia, 1948 British Industries Fair. Interior, ground floor, ICI exhibition stand.London, Olympia, 1949 British Industries Fair. View of admissions hall on ground floor.London, Olympia, 1949 British Industries Fair. View of admissions hall on ground floor.London, Olympia, 1952 British Industries Fair. View of ICI exhibition stand.London, Olympia, 1949 British Industries Fair. Presentation perspective of ICI exhibition stand.London, Olympia, 1952 British Industries Fair. Presentation perspective of ICI exhibition stand.1949 British Industries Fair. Elevation of and details of ICI Monsanto exhibition stand.1949 British Industries Fair. Detail of 'revolving world' exhibition feature.1949 British Industries Fair. Plan of ICI Monsanto exhibition stand .1950 British Industries Fair, Scottish Furniture Manufacturers' Association exhibition stand. Plans, sections, and elevations.London, Olympia, 1949 British Industries Fair. Detail of interlocking cogwheels, symbol of the fair.London, Olympia, 1953 British Industries Fair. View of Lawrence Scarfe mural at ICI exhibition stand.1949 British Industries Fair. Elevation of ICI Monsanto exhibition stand.London, Olympia. 1949 British Industries Fair, view of ground floor.London, Olympia, 1949 British Industries Fair. View of ICI exhibition stand.1949 British Industries Fair. Plan, elevation, and section of ICI Monsanto exhibition feature.1950 British Industries Fair, Scottish Furniture Manufacturers' Association exhibition stand. Layout plan showing designers of individual room sets.London, Olympia, 1947 British Industries Fair. Model of ICI exhibition stand.London, Olympia, 1949 British Industries Fair. British Rayon Federation exhibition stand.London, Olympia, 1952 British Industries Fair. View of lounge at ICI exhibition stand.London, Olympia, 1949 British Industries Fair. View of ground floor.London, Olympia, 1950 British Industries Fair. Scottish Furniture Manufacturers' Association exhibition stand, interchangeable units designed by R D Russell and R Y Goodden.London, Olympia, 1949 British Industries Fair. Presentation perspective.London, Olympia, 1952 British Industries Fair. Plans and elevations of ICI exhibition stand.London, Olympia. Interior. 1949 British Industries Fair, ground floor.London, Olympia, 1949 British Industries Fair. View of ground floor.London, Olympia, 1949 British Industries Fair. View of ICI exhibition stand.Ex-Scotland. England, Earls Court and Olympia, British Industries Fair. Photographic view of exhibition hall showing stands under construction. Insc on verso: 'B.I.F. under construction Please return photograph to Mr Basil Spence 40 Moray Place Edinburgh.'London, Olympia. 1949 British Industries Fair, view of National Hall.

Administrative Areas

  • Council Not Applicable
  • Parish Hammersmith And Fulham
  • Former Region Greater London
  • Former District Hammersmith And Fulham
  • Former County Greater London

Sir Basil Spence

Sir Basil Spence

Building Notes

Throughout his career, Spence was involved in exhibition projects. His work at these post-Second World War Industries Fairs, essentially meeting places for buyers and company representatives, exemplifies his approach to this particular, temporary form of architecture. Spence was called upon to supervise the overall design of the Olympia Fairs of 1947-50 and 1952-53, and lent them a sure touch of theatricality and a neat, clean aesthetic. Moreover, he was involved in specific designs for each Fair, including various stands for Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) and 'indicator' pylons, directing visitors around the site.

Archive Details

Manuscript material held in the Archive gives some indication of the press coverage the British Industries Fairs received, both in the specialist architectural press and more mainstream media. One contemporary news article highlights the popularity of such events on an international scale, with Spence voicing a desire to 'keep up' with trends on the Continent and articulating his belief that a well organised, well designed Fair reflects the values of its host country.

Archive material illustrates that the architecture of the Fairs is recognisably temporary. Spence's designs generally exhibit a light, simple style, occasionally enlivened by artistic commissions (for example, Laurence Scarfe's Coronation-themed mural at ICI's 1953 stand). The pavilions' function is often reflected in an open, transparent form, epitomised by Spence’s 1948 ICI stand.

Archive Summary

The Sir Basil Spence Archive contains two manuscript folders, 68 photographs, and 12 drawings relating to the Fairs between 1947 and 1950 and two manuscript folders, eight photographs, and five drawings relating to those from 1952 and 1953. In addition, the Spence, Glover and Ferguson Collection, also held at RCAHMS, contains 12 photographs relating to the 1947 British Industries Fair.

This text was written as one of the outputs of the Sir Basil Spence Archive Project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, 2005-08.

Further Details

Architecture Notes

English Heritage pastscape reference TQ27NW 156

Further Details

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