Charles Barry English architect Date of Birth: 23.05.1795 Country: Great Britain

1. Charles Barry: An English Architect
2. Early Career and Notable Works
3. The Palace of Westminster
4. Achievements and Legacy

Charles Barry: An English Architect

Charles Barry, an English architect and representative of neoclassical and neo-Gothic styles, is primarily known as the creator of the design for the Palace of Westminster. He was born on May 23, 1795, in London.

Early Career and Notable Works

Barry's professional reputation was established through the creation of the Travellers Club project in London (built from 1829 to 1832). This project was an attempt to return to the Palladian style, characterized by its large order columns and pilasters. Both the Travellers Club and Barry's next construction, the Reform Club (begun in 1837), were free variations on the theme of a Roman palazzo, with rooms arranged around a central open courtyard. The construction and decoration of several club buildings brought the architect widespread acclaim. Barry's major works in London include the Royal College of Surgeons (1835), the Treasury (1846-1847), and Pentonville Prison (1840).

The Palace of Westminster

However, Barry's most famous achievement is the ensemble of the Parliament buildings, including the Victoria Tower and the Clock Tower (Big Ben), which he created together with A. W. N. Pugin. Construction started in 1837 and was completed after Barry's death. This building, the last in a series of romantic palaces in the neo-Gothic style, has a magnificent layout and is richly adorned in Victorian taste.

Achievements and Legacy

Barry was a member of the Royal Academy of Arts and the Royal Society of London, and in 1852, he was knighted. He passed away in London on May 12, 1860.