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Visiting dignitaries JLP01_08_063426
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Visiting dignitaries JLP01_08_063426
COMMONWEALTH INSTITUTE, KENSINGTON HIGH STREET, KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA, GREATER LONDON. A group of MPs from Sierra Leone visiting the Commonwealth Institute during the final stages of its construction.
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
Historic England is the public body that champions and protects England's historic places
Media ID 24320090
© Historic England Archive
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a significant moment in history as visiting dignitaries from Sierra Leone explore the Commonwealth Institute during its final stages of construction. Located on Kensington High Street in Greater London, this iconic building was constructed by Laing between October 1960 and October 1962 to replace the former Imperial Institute. The Commonwealth Institute consisted of a four-storey administrative block that housed various facilities such as a library, restaurant, boardroom, and conference hall. Additionally, there was a separate two-storey block featuring a cinema with an art gallery above. However, the highlight of this architectural masterpiece was undoubtedly the exhibition hall with its groundbreaking hyperbolic paraboloid roof – the first of its kind ever built in Great Britain. Designed by James Gardner, the exhibition within showcased the achievements and characteristics of each Commonwealth nation. Its purpose was to serve as an interactive teaching aid for school children studying history and geography. The aim was to enliven their lessons by providing them with firsthand experiences and insights into different cultures and nations. Preserved within this remarkable print from A© Historic England Archive is not just an image but also a testament to international cooperation and cultural exchange. It serves as a reminder of how architecture can transcend boundaries and foster understanding among nations.
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