The Palace of Westminster, located along the River Thames in London, has been the seat of the British Parliament for nearly a thousand years. With its sand-colored limestone façade, intricate Gothic details, and the iconic Elizabeth Tower rising above, it is one of the most recognizable and impressive government buildings in the world. But what makes this building so iconic and influential from an architectural and historical perspective?
A Catastrophe and an Opportunity
The story of how the Palace of Westminster came to look as it does today begins with disaster. On October 16, 1834, a great fire broke out in the palace complex that raged unchecked through the night. By morning, the medieval jumble of buildings was largely destroyed, with only a few structures like Westminster Hall and the Jewel Tower surviving.
While tragic, the fire presented a unique opportunity to not just rebuild, but completely rethink how the home of British democracy should look and function. In 1835, a Royal Commission was appointed to oversee this monumental undertaking. Their first decision was one that would shape British architecture for a century: the choice of style.
Gothic Revival: Crafting a National Identity
In the early 19th century, Neoclassical architecture was en vogue across Europe and North America, having been used for prominent government buildings like the White House and Capitol Building in Washington D.C. However, for the British sensibility at the time, this style was seen as too republican, too revolutionary, too…French.
The Royal Commission instead decreed that the new Palace of Westminster would be rebuilt in either a Gothic or Elizabethan style – a pointed callback to Britain‘s medieval past. The Gothic Revival style in particular, though initially resisted by some, came to be seen by many as Britain‘s true national style.
As architectural historian Rosemary Hill writes in her book "God‘s Architect: Pugin and the Building of Romantic Britain":
"The choice of Gothic was more than an aesthetic preference; it was a political and religious statement. The Gothic style embodied the traditional religious and political values which the new Parliament building was intended to uphold."
In this sense, the architecture itself was to embody a sense of British identity – an identity defined by Christianity, aristocracy, and historical continuity in contrast to the rationalist, democratic upheavals on the continent.
Bringing Barry and Pugin‘s Vision to Life
To bring this Gothic vision to life, a design competition was launched in 1836 soliciting proposals for a new palace complex. Out of 97 entries submitted, the winning design chosen was by architect Charles Barry, with assistance from Augustus Pugin, a fervent advocate of the Gothic Revival style.
Barry conceived a palace that was a masterpiece of symmetry and order, centered on two major axes aligning with Westminster Hall to the north and St. Margaret‘s Church to the south. The façade stretching along the Thames would feature a central tower over 300 feet tall (now known as the Elizabeth Tower), flanked by a picturesque collection of spires, pinnacles, and tracery windows.
Charles Barry‘s original 1836 design for the Palace of Westminster. Note the symmetry and Gothic details. (Image: UK Parliament)
While Barry crafted the "bones" of the palace, it was Pugin who gave it decorative life. Pugin designed nearly all of the palace‘s sumptuous interiors, from the grand royal ceremonial spaces to the most minute decorative details. His obsessive attention to Gothic authenticity can be seen in everything from the wallpaper patterns to the door hinges, all custom-designed to conform to his medievalist vision.
Construction on the immense project began in 1840, with the first stone laid by Barry‘s wife. The primary building material used was a sand-colored limestone from the Anston Quarry in Yorkshire, chosen for its suitability for intricate carving. While Barry originally estimated the project would take six years and £724,986 to complete, it ultimately took over 30 years (until 1870) and cost over £2 million.
By the Numbers: The Scale of the Palace
The final result was a building of staggering size and intricacy. Some key statistics:
- Total floor area: 1,100,000 square feet (102,000 m²)
- Height of Elizabeth Tower: 315 feet (96m)
- Height of Victoria Tower: 323 feet (98.5m)
- Length of façade along the Thames: 940 feet (286m)
- Number of rooms: 1,100
- Number of windows: 4,000
- Number of doors: 3,000
- Amount of carved stone: 24,000 cubic meters
The effect of this scale is one of immense grandeur – a fitting monument to the power and prestige of the British Empire at its peak. Every inch of the façade is encrusted with Gothic decoration, from trefoils and quatrefoils to gargoyles and heraldic beasts. It is a visual feast that continues to captivate today.
The Legacy of the Gothic Revival
The Gothic Revival style embodied in the Palace of Westminster would go on to define Victorian architecture and influence the design of government buildings around the world. The Houses of Parliament in Budapest and Ottawa, for example, both drew direct inspiration from Westminster, as did numerous state capitols and city halls across the United States.
The Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest, completed in 1904, was directly inspired by the Palace of Westminster. (Image: Juan Rubiano)
Even beyond government buildings, the influence of the palace‘s Gothic design can be seen in countless universities, churches, hotels, and private residences built in the late 19th century. The style came to symbolize not just British identity, but the era‘s ideals of tradition, morality, and craftsmanship.
As historian David Cannadine writes in "The Houses of Parliament: History, Art, Architecture":
"The new Houses of Parliament were the most important and influential secular building of the Gothic Revival, a style which became synonymous with the Victorian age…The building both reflected and shaped the Victorians‘ idea of themselves."
In this sense, the Palace of Westminster became more than just a feat of architecture – it was a cultural touchstone, an embodiment of how the Victorians saw themselves and their place in history. It is no wonder, then, that the building has had such an enduring impact on art, literature, and popular imagination.
An Architectural Icon in Art and Culture
Since its completion, the Palace of Westminster has been a near-constant presence in depictions of London and Britain. It has starred in countless paintings, photographs, films and television shows, often serving as a visual shorthand for the nation as a whole.
Claude Monet‘s 1903 painting of the Palace of Westminster, one of a series of 19 depicting the building in different light and weather conditions. (Image: Cleveland Museum of Art)
Impressionist painter Claude Monet was famously captivated by the palace, painting a series of 19 views of it at different times of day. The building has featured prominently in films like "V for Vendetta", "28 Days Later", and "Doctor Who", often serving as a symbol of government authority. In literature, the palace has appeared in works ranging from Charles Dickens‘ "David Copperfield" to Alan Moore‘s graphic novel "Watchmen".
The cultural impact of the building is perhaps best summed up by historian Sir John Summerson, who called it "the building that everybody knows". Its silhouette along the Thames has become one of the most recognizable sights in the world, an architectural icon on par with the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty.
Preserving an Iconic Symbol
For nearly 150 years, the Palace of Westminster has served as the meeting place of British democracy, bearing witness to countless historical debates, speeches, and decisions. It has survived the Blitz, major fires, and the ever-present threat of decay and disrepair.
Today, the palace is undergoing an extensive multi-year restoration project known as the "Restoration and Renewal Programme". The aim is to preserve the building for future generations while upgrading its facilities to meet the needs of a modern parliament.
As a Grade I listed building and part of the UNESCO Westminster World Heritage Site, any restoration work must be done with the utmost care and attention to historical detail. Teams of architects, historians, and craftsmen are working to faithfully restore the palace‘s Gothic features while subtly integrating new technologies and systems.
The Elizabeth Tower shrouded in scaffolding during renovation work in 2019. The famous tower is just one small part of the larger ongoing restoration of the Palace of Westminster. (Image: Jessica Taylor/UK Parliament)
It is a testament to the importance and iconic status of the building that such lengths are being taken to ensure its survival. The Palace of Westminster is more than just a seat of government – it is a symbol of Britain‘s history, values, and identity. Its iconic architecture embodies the very spirit of the nation in a way few buildings can.
A Masterpiece of Victorian Gothic Architecture
In conclusion, the Palace of Westminster‘s design is iconic for a multitude of reasons. It is a masterpiece of Victorian Gothic architecture, featuring intricate details, soaring towers, and grand spaces that continue to awe visitors nearly 150 years after its completion.
But beyond its aesthetic qualities, the palace is iconic for what it represents. Its choice of Gothic Revival style was a deliberate nod to Britain‘s medieval past, an attempt to embody traditional values of religion, monarchy, and craftsmanship in the face of a rapidly industrializing world.
The palace‘s architecture went on to influence government buildings around the globe, spreading a particular vision of stately Gothic grandeur. Its image has permeated art and culture, becoming synonymous with Britain itself.
Today, the palace stands as one of the most recognizable and significant buildings in the world. Its iconic status is a testament to the vision of its architects, Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin, and to the enduring power of architecture to shape our sense of national identity and history. As efforts continue to preserve and restore this architectural treasure, its status as a global icon seems assured for generations to come.
