Portcullis House, London

The modern Portcullis House, located across Bridge Street from Big Ben, serves as the office space for many of the 650 members of the House of Commons, who conveniently commute to the Houses of Parliament via an underground passageway. This building, commissioned in 1992 and inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II in February 2001, was designed by Michael Hopkins & Partners and ingeniously integrates the Westminster tube station beneath it.

The building's distinctive silhouette, characterized by its rows of tall, black, tube-like chimneys, is intended to evoke the Victorian Gothic aesthetics of the Palace of Westminster while harmonizing with the neighboring Norman Shaw Building's chimneys. Inside, the structure is designed to resemble the interior of a ship, with offices and passageways that feature graceful bowed windows and light oak accents. Each floor bears a striking resemblance to the others, with the exception of the ground floor, which features a central courtyard adorned with ship-like metallic sails suspended overhead. This courtyard is adorned with trees and two shallow water basins.

Tip:
Please note that Portcullis House itself may not be open to public visits, but you can purchase tickets to visit the Houses of Parliament nearby. Inside, you'll find an inviting open atrium with a café that serves delicious coffee.