Crystal Palace National Recreation Centre

Crystal Palace National Recreation Centre

Sports Centre designed in 1953-4 and built between 1960 and 1964 by the LCC Architect's Department under Leslie Martin and, from 1957, Hubert Bennett. Norman Engleback served as Group Leader until 1960, followed by E R Hayes; B G Jones and M J Attenborough were assistant designers. Sir Gerald Barry acted as consultant.

The building employs a reinforced concrete frame, exposed externally and largely infilled with glass at upper levels, with some brick below. The complex but logical plan features a central A-frame supporting spectator seating and a reinforced concrete roof. On either side sit the baths and principal arena on two upper levels. The lower floor contains squash courts, smaller halls, boxing booths (formerly indoor cricket facilities), changing areas and boilers.

The main halls are fully glazed at upper level, with the end elevations presenting a predominantly vertical composition of regular mullions with two thin transoms. The slightly longer side elevations are more expressive, forming a tripartite thirteen-bay composition with thick horizontal transoms. An oversailing roof has a teak-lined underside both inside and out, with the side elevations displaying a double M lozenge pattern. Participants enter at the lowest level through double doors (renewed), while spectators enter at upper level from a long raised terrace that forms the principal axis of the park. A small detached pool is not of special architectural interest.

The interiors visible to spectators are of particular importance. The pool hall contains a central 165-foot eight-line racing pool, with a diving pool featuring a dramatic reinforced concrete diving board at the north end and a learner pool to the south. The entire length is tiled at lower level. One side has a bank of seating giving on to a central concourse on two levels linked by stairs, with a corresponding bank serving a smaller arena on the other side. The views across the concourse and seating, and down into squash areas, are particularly impressive. This fluidity is enhanced by the bold expression of the A-frame and delicate arched bracing supporting the roof, a most distinctive and distinguished feature.

The LCC took over the derelict site in 1951 from the Crystal Palace Trust. Sir Gerald Barry, director of the Festival of Britain, was commissioned to advise on the best use of the land. His proposed new exhibition centre was not adopted, but the LCC adopted his idea of using the drained lake area in the middle of the gardens as a centre for recreational sports and training with some residential facilities.

Emphasis was given to swimming as Southern England lacked an Olympic-sized pool. This was the first indoor multi-functional hall designed in Britain, though not the first to be built, at a time when such facilities did not exist elsewhere in Europe. Crystal Palace is exceptional in the breadth of its vision—not only in the range of facilities carefully planned within it but also in being intended to serve serious performers from all nations (with separate residential accommodation in the park) as well as local enthusiasts.