Hi Simon
The design and build time was extraordinary it was something like 6 hour sketch design 6 weeks detailed design and 6 months build, it might be multiples of 9?
I think it could be said that it was the first recyclable building using cast iron, glass and wood as it was only meant to last 6 months but was so successful it got moved. Richard Rogers was highly influenced by it, he did his dissertation on it. The top of the Lloyd’s building has a owed to it it and the millennium dome has that temporary style. All Expo buildings have a direct relationship to the Crystal Palace building.
I was going to do a fly-through but need to model up some of the interior decoration, it is just a bit of a big shed without it.
I was going do The 1911 Festival of Empire there where three-quarter size models of Empire Parliamentary buildings.
I have meant some other people would learnt to drive there.