Wembleystands for more than just a sports venue - it represents a groundbreaking vision and a daring excursion in architectural history.
The British Empire Exhibition of 1924, held at Wembley, London, was a grand spectacle that showcased the cultural diversity and architectural prowess of the British Empire. The exhibition, which attracted eighteen million visitors between April and November 1924, and reopened in 1925 to recoup costs, was a testament to the imperial vision of the time.
The main exhibition structures were designed to be permanent, with Wembley Stadium being the most enduring. The stadium, although reconstructed in 2003-07, remains a significant legacy of the event.
One of the architectural highlights was the British Government Pavilion, widely acknowledged as the site's highest achievement. Elisabeth Scott, an architect, was responsible for its design. The pavilion, along with the Palace of Engineering, pioneered the use of concrete as a common building material by the mid-1970s. Despite their historical significance, both structures were unfortunately demolished.
Joseph Emberton, another architect, contributed to the exhibition with novel advertising kiosks. He turned poster art into three-dimensional structures, creating unique kiosks for Sharps's toffee and Oxo pavilions.
The Palace of Arts was another popular attraction, featuring an extremely popular suite of six period rooms. The suite started with a panelled apartment of about 1750 and continued through various periods of British history.
Notable architects like Sir Edwin Cooper and Owen Williams played crucial roles in the exhibition's design. Cooper produced a fine large Doric portico for the Port of London display, while Williams, a consultant engineer, brought expertise in reinforced concrete and aeronautical engineering to the design of the exhibition's Palace of Engineering.
The exhibition was intended to showcase the British Empire in microcosm, with a focus on cultural diversity. Seventy-eight governments participated, making it a truly global event.
However, a century later, the imperial vision promoted by the Wembley exhibition seems hopelessly outdated. Historians have paid scant attention to the event, perhaps due to its association with an era that is now largely considered problematic.
Despite this, the Wembley Exhibition of 1924 offers a fascinating glimpse into Britain's imperial past, showcasing the architectural and cultural achievements of the time.
Figure 1: Advertising Kiosks at the British Empire Exhibition, designed by Joseph Emberton.
