These fiberglass shells were initially \u00a0made for the 1964 World\u2019s Fair as exhibition spaces, and had glass walls that have long since been removed. There were three, but only two remain today, and what happened to the third one\u2026 no one knows. The designer of the Candella Structures was attributed to the architect Felix Candela, however this was dispelled, leaving the true creator of the structures unknown for the extent of Kirsten and Paul\u2019s research.<\/p>\n
Here is an excerpt from their website on this, as incite to the reason the designer was unclear:<\/p>\n
\u201cWho designed the Candela Structures? The original drawings have been lost, so it\u2019s impossible to know for sure, but the answer would seem to lie in the structures\u2019 name, a reference to the architect F\u00e9lix Candela. Candela, who died in 1997, specialized in thin shells of reinforced concrete, and the Marina buildings do look like his work. But we\u2019ve come to doubt that he designed them. Here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n
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- Books about Candela make no mention of the World\u2019s Fair, and Candela scholars have told us they\u2019re unfamiliar with the Marina structures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Candela\u2019s widow, Dorothy Candela, could not recall him having worked on the structures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Candela\u2019s papers, which are held at Columbia University, show nothing related to the Fair.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- The architect of record for the World\u2019s Fair Marina was Peter Schladermundt, who had no known connection to Candela. (Schladermundt died in 1975, and we\u2019ve been unable to locate his papers.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
But if Candela didn\u2019t design the structures, who did? Maybe Schladermundt; maybe a team at Owens-Corning Fiberglass, which oversaw the manufacturing of the structures; maybe someone else. For now, this question remains a mystery. (Update!: We\u2019re happy to report that this mystery has been solved. You can\u00a0learn the answer right away<\/a>, or just keep paging through the exhibit and all will be revealed.)\u201d<\/p>\n
I highly recommend clicking that link to find out who the true designer was, and while you\u2019re there, take a look at the amazing collection of data and images Kirsten and Paul dug up.<\/p>\n
A little on the structure\u2019s assembly from them:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe individual panels (12 or 16 per structure, depending on which source you believe) snapped together with embedded steel connectors and a center pin at the top, and the feet are anchored to the ground with steel L brackets. The joints are the weakest point \u2014 they\u2019re now riddled with cracks, which have allowed water to penetrate and wreck havoc with the vulnerable foam interior. Perhaps more regular maintenance or high-tech sealants not available in 1964 could protect these connections today? Nevertheless, they\u2019ve held up remarkably well and may in fact be the oldest standing \ufb01berglass structures in New York City.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Drawing based on a drawing by Miceli, Kulik, Williams & Associates, PC, dated May 20, 1998, for a 2001 renovation. (Original drawing courtesy of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation)<\/p>\n
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Photos:\u00a0View looking west along the Flushing Bay Promenade, during the Fair (left) and today. The fair photo is one of only three known photographs showing all three original structures together. (Photos courtesy of Owens Corning; and Kirsten Hively)<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t
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- The architect of record for the World\u2019s Fair Marina was Peter Schladermundt, who had no known connection to Candela. (Schladermundt died in 1975, and we\u2019ve been unable to locate his papers.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Candela\u2019s papers, which are held at Columbia University, show nothing related to the Fair.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Candela\u2019s widow, Dorothy Candela, could not recall him having worked on the structures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/farm4.static.flickr.com\/3077\/2890050160_14133c375d_b.jpg\")
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