Responding to the legacy of Joseph Paxton, a pioneer of lightweight glazed construction, WilkinsonEyre developed this proposal for an Exhibition Hall and Sculpture Garden on the site of the 1854 Crystal Palace in southeast London. The 150m long curvilinear glazed structure was designed to float above the trees on the axis of the transverse aisle of the old building, leaving the landscaped park below free for public access as a sculpture garden.

Constructed entirely of glass with a laminated gridshell structure, the skin will encapsulate photovoltaic cells to provide solar power for the building, and gill-like louvers for the natural ventilation of the space. The new Crystal Palace is intended as a destination icon, visible across London both day and night, and providing a unique space for visitors to see modern sculpture whilst enjoying distant views of the city and beyond.