Architecture of Belfast
Arnold Thornely
Co. Antrim
parliaments
Ralph Knott
Unbuilt Belfast
Random Building
1900 – Unbuilt Design for Assembly Rooms, Belfast
1920s – Design for Parliament & Government Buildings, Stormont, Belfast, Co. Antrim
Architect: Sir Arnold Thornely & Ralph Knott
After the partition of Ireland with the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, plans for a large domed parliament building with two subsidiary government buildings, housing all three branches of government – legislative, executive and judicial – were drawn up. The government buildings were to designs by Ralph Knott. The plans, which included a large dome over the central building, were scrapped following the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Instead, a smaller dome-less building designed by Sir Arnold Thornely in the Greek classical style and fronted in Portland stone, was erected on the site.