Dome of Discovery
dome discovery temporary exhibition building designed architect ralph tubbs festival britain celebration took place london south bank alongside river thames consulting engineer freeman fox partner particular oleg kerensky gilbert robert like adjacent skylon dome became iconic structure public helped popularise modern design architectural style britain still suffering postwar austerity twin icon form skylon dome discovery related trylon perisphere new york world fair controversially festival closed dome demolished material sold scrap site cleared reuse location jubilee garden near london eye dome diameter foot stood foot tall making time largest dome world long escalator dramatic entrance dome made aluminium construction contracted horseley ironwork tipton fabrication partly subcontracted structural mechanical development engineer ltd slough erected horseley site designed prepared costain group concrete aluminium modernist style housed many festival attraction internally dome included number gallery various level housing exhibition theme discovery theme exhibition dome discovery british initiative exploration discovery strong ever exhibition divided following section land earth polar sea sky outer space physical world living world keith vaughan commissioned paint foot mural theme discovery photographic record mural exists although sketch included sothebys – november sale response public statement jude kelly destiny skylon investigation launched front row programme bbc radio result broadcast march revealing skylon roof dome discovery sold scrap george cohen son scrap metal dealer wood lane white city dismantled work bidder street canning town bank river lea metal fragment turned series commemorative paperknife artefact inscription paperknife read made aluminium alloy roof sheet covered dome discovery festival britain south bank dome skylon building site dismantled george cohen son company ltd month skylon festival britain millennium dome dome discovery construction image search festival britain — tour dome discovery