How a Building Made Entirely of Glass Accommodated 6 Million People Without Air Conditioning

Ever wonder how a building made entirely of glass survived the height of summer? The Crystal Palace in London, built in 1851, didn't cool the air; instead, it twisted the angle of sunlight hitting the glass. They dug triangular grooves into the roof, angling the glass panes. What's even more interesting is that the person who came up with this method wasn't an architect but a gardener, bringing over technology used in greenhouses. Still, they couldn't fully beat the summer heat, so they ended up removing some glass panes, and the Royal Engineers had to open and close them based on thermometer readings. It's quite impressive.