The Crystal Exhibition

The Crystal, located at Royal Victoria Dock in East London, was a landmark sustainable cities exhibition created by Siemens and designed by the architectural firm WilkinsonEyre. Covering 21,500 square feet, the interactive exhibition served as home to Siemens' Center of Competence – Cities, where a team of multidisciplinary urban experts guided visitors through the urban infrastructure of the future, examining possibilities for sustainable mobility, building technologies, power and water supplies, and healthcare. The striking glass building challenged conventional ideas on sustainability, championing the use of advanced technology to minimise energy use, and earned both BREEAM Outstanding and LEED Platinum ratings — among the highest standards in sustainable design and construction. By 2016, The Crystal had established itself as a major cultural and educational destination in East London. Its permanent exhibition on sustainable development analysed how cities perform regarding consumption of natural resources, pollution, and transport, aiming to promote an eco-friendly approach to urban planning. The experience was highly interactive — visitors received an electronic card upon entry that activated specific elements such as visuals, audio, and games when swiped through card readers throughout the open, section-divided space. That same year, The Crystal also hosted a photography exhibition featuring 100 images from the prestigious International Images for Science competition.