Portcullis House was designed based on a competition winner. I’ve always thought it was decent but not great. But compared to the runners up 🥶. Imagine!
Here’s the Portcullis House we actually got, and that we have now. Compared to what might have been, it’s positively glorious.
Portcullis House cost £260m to build (incl demolishing what was there before). Previously, the site hosted St Stephen’s Club, St Stephen’s Chambers, and Palace Chambers. Can be seen from across the bridge here.
The winning design was by Sir Basil Spence’s nephew Robin. They paid him £8,000 for it but didn’t use it for several decades and ended up building something a good deal more sympathetic
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