Portcullis House, Westminster, London
Posted by: 
Norfolk12
N 51° 30.078 W 000° 07.476
30U E 699564 N 5709494
A purpose built Government Building.
Waymark Code: WM9KDA
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 08/29/2010
Views: 28
The building's curious profile, with its rows of tall chimneys, is intended to recall the Victorian Gothic design of the Palace of Westminster and to fit in with the chimneys of the Norman Shaw Building next door.
Portcullis House's chimneys are not used to expel fumes but are part of an unpowered air conditioning system, which is designed to draw air through the building by exploiting natural convection flows. It is based on the system used in 1996 in the Eastgate Centre, Harare, Zimbabwe.
The building itself was designed to look and feel like a ship inside. All the offices and passages are made up with bowed windows and light oak finishing. Each floor looks identical to the others except the ground floor which houses the main courtyard with ship-like metallic sails suspended overhead. The courtyard is decorated with trees and two shallow baths of water.
Private or Public Property?: Government Buuilding
What material is it made from?: METAL
When was it made?: 01/01/1998
Estimated Height of chimney (please include whether metres or feet): 4-5 ft
Type of building e.g. house, hotel etc: Governement Offices
How do you rate it?: 
Website with further information: [Web Link]
|
Visit Instructions:
When visiting a unique chimney or chimney pot you must post an original picture with your visit log. Please describe the condition and make your log interesting.