As we researched this project, it became clear that nobody involved in the 1964-65 World's Fair thought the Candela Structures were particularly important, especially when compared to the Fair's flashier pavilions. True, the Candelas aren't big or awe-inspiring, but that's part of their charm. We love their elemental grace, their sense of congenial optimism, and the way their meticulous geometry contrasts with their playful swoops and curves.

Nearly half a century after the Fair's conclusion, most of the more grandiose buildings are gone and forgotten, but the Candelas remain — a pair of New York treasures hiding in plain sight.

Click on the images below to see them larger. (Photos by Kirsten Hively and Paul Lukas)

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