1859
Foreign Office Competition
George Gilbert Scott
London
Random Building
1873 – Economic Life Assurance Offices, Blackfriars, London
1858 – George Gilbert’s Scott’s design for Foreign Office, London
Architect: George Gilbert Scott
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office building originally provided premises for four separate government departments: the Foreign Office, the India Office, the Colonial Office, and the Home Office. Construction on the building began in 1861 after an architectural competition. Scott had initially envisaged a Gothic design, which he won the competition with, but the then Prime Minister Lord Palmerston insisted on a classical style. Palmerston pervailed in the discussion and the building was constructed in an Italianate style by Scott.
Published December 4, 2013