Under the direction of Chief Architect Thomas Tait, the architecture at the Empire Exhibition displayed a general uniformity. A modern style, using standard materials of light steel, timber and asbestos, easily painted, was the order of the day.
One of the exceptions was the Burma Pavilion, illustrated here. A roof constructed with slats of teak, stained red, was fronted by a facade decorated with elaborate carvings.
Teak and other native woods also featured in the wall panelling and flooring inside the pavilion and also in the display of native arts and crafts. Rice, Burma's premier industry, occupied a prominent area, with a pictorial display of the various stages involved in its production. The main commercial firms operating in Burma were represented, including the Burmah Oil Co and the Irrawaddy Flotilla Co, both of which had strong connections with Glasgow.
Reference: Mitchell Library, GC ef606.4 (1938)
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
architecture, Burma Pavilion, Burmah Oil Company, Empire Exhibition, exhibitions, Irrawaddy Flotilla Company, rice, teak
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