Towards the beginning of the 19th century, the introduction and advancements in manufacturing, materials and techniques demanded for new types of building to fulfil new social expectations, changes in the cultural climate. The 19th century architecture is highly associated with the industrial revolution, which had begun in Britain in the late 18th century, before spreading to Europe and America. In this way, engineers for the first time, implemented new techniques, with new material in an impressive array of simple, functional buildings, dominating the industrial areas. Also, the increasingly populated and urbanised cities, challenging architects of the era, as for the first time, commercial buildings with the new techniques created in the Industrial revolution dominated architecture in Britain, whereas, churches and fortresses had previously been the only structures of an outstanding size. Through various architects, styles of the past (Gothic, Baroque) were re-examined, while society demanded new, major, modern, architectural monuments.
Similarly, The Crystal Palace, exemplifies the technological advancements in cast iron and glass. Originally constructed in Hyde Park, London, it held the Great exhibition of 1851, and later re-built in Sydenham Hill. Its iron frame was prefabricated into many sections, with glass panels, set into wooden sash-bars, rendering a massive glass structure. It, at the time, was the largest building ever constructed, containing over 92 000 m^2 of exhibition space, 4500t of iron and 293 000 panes of glass. In this way, the Crystal Palace was a demonstration of the latest British technology in both iron and glass. John Paxton, its architect, experimented with prefabricated glass and iron structured techniques, due to advances in its manufacturing process, therefore cost reduction. Even though a significant monument for the 19th century, its original construction period was only 8 months, costing only 150 000 pounds. Paxton, an...