Why the UK Parliament chose Gothic architecture over the style of the White House
In short: In 1835, Britain faced a massive architectural dilemma: how to rebuild the Palace of Westminster. The choice wasn't just about aesthetics; it was a high-stakes battle over national identity, where the wrong style could signal a radical shift in the country's political soul.
The rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster was a monumental undertaking that demanded both vast resources and a clear political vision. In 1835, a Royal Commission was tasked with studying the reconstruction of the site. At the time, neo-classical architecture was highly popular, drawing inspiration from structures like the White House in the United States. However, this style was deeply polarizing in Britain because it was associated with revolution and republicanism.
To safeguard conservative values, the commission decreed in June 1835 that the new buildings must be either Gothic or Elizabethan. Despite opting to discard the medieval palace's primary floor plan, the commission mandated that the Cloisters of St Stephen's, the Undercroft Chapel, and Westminster Hall be preserved as they were. In 1836, a public competition was launched, attracting 97 anonymous entries. The commissioners eventually selected entry number 64, submitted by Charles Barry, which proposed a Gothic design harmonized with the surviving structures.
The project's scale quickly outpaced its initial projections. Construction began on April 27, 1840, with Barry estimating a six-year timeline and a cost of £724,986. In reality, the project spanned over 30 years and cost more than £2 million. To accommodate the new design, the site was expanded into the river to reach about eight acres. The House of Lords and House of Commons relocated to their respective chambers in 1847 and 1852, yet the entire project concluded ten years past 1860.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Rebuilding the Medieval Palace of Westminster - Dr Simon Thurley
- Also: Rebuilding Palace
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