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There were a lot more company pavilions, situated at better sites than the nation pavilions as well, as the organisers were of the opinion that Capitalism rather than Nationalism would further the progress of mankind. Yet the company pavilions did not always offer the most progressive architecture. One of the rare exception was the half-sphere of United States Steel. The architect’s office York & Sawyer constructed a pavilion completely made from steel. Still visible beams carried a dome made from steel sheets. At night neon tubes bathed the supports in blue and white light which gave the structure an almost incorporeal appearance.
The hall of the communications industry by Keally and Dean was not more than a decorated box – like most of the other pavilions. In the pavilion a multimedia show presented the history of victory over space and time so no windows and hardly any fittings were necessary. The curving smooth outer wall offered space for a huge wall painting by Eugene Savage which showed in radiant colours the means of communication past and present. Two fifty metres high pylons flanked the entrance and a statue with the title ‘Speed’ by Joseph Renier. They were painted bright red and only put up to make visitors aware of the communications exhibition.
The colour scheme for the facades had been discussed by the Board of Design in great length but for the nightly illumination they searched even more intensively for impressive effects. Trylon and Perisphere were variably lit night after night by a sophisticated illumination programme. Apart from Trylon and Perisphere there were only a few elements permitted to be illuminated at night. One of them was the Star Pylon next to the Casino of Nations symbolising the effectiveness of electricity. A tall mast with distinctive curving patterns made from the wood of Douglas fir was lit with neon lights. The pylon emanated pure light beams and illuminated the night sky bright as 100,000 light bulbs. The organisers got their inspiration for the nightly fireworks by the Paris World Fair of 1937. For the first time in the States a ‘Son et lumiere’ show was on every night.
| Year: 1939 | City: New York | Country: USA |
| Duration: 30th April - 31st October 1939 und 11th | ||
