British architect Norman Foster has revealed plans for a demountable glass and steel building to house the UK government while the Houses of Parliament is renovated.
Created in partnership with property developer John Ritblat, the temporary building would contain an exact replica of the House of Commons along with offices for 650 members of parliament wrapped in a bomb-proof glass and steel shell.
It would be built around 400 metres from the Palace of Westminster on Horse Guards Parade and would be used while the 19th-century building is restored.
The structure was designed by Foster, founder of multiple Stirling Prize-winning studio Foster + Partners, at the request of the body in charge of restoring the Palace of Westminster as an alternative to Allford Hall Monaghan Morris' plans for a temporary structure within Richmond House. "It saves a huge amount of money and time and is reusable"
According to British newspaper the Times, Foster and Ritblat were asked to submit their design as part of a review into the overall costs of the restoration of the Palace of Westminster, including its temporary relocation.
The structure, which would cost £300 million and could be reused when the restoration is completed, was designed as a lower-cost alternative to the Allford Hall Monaghan Morris redevelopment of Richmond House.
"It saves a huge amount of money and time and is reusable," Foster told the Times.
"It showcases what we can produce as a nation,"...