Somerset House And King'S College Old Building

Somerset House and King's College Old Building

Somerset House is a major government building and college complex located on the Strand in Westminster. It comprises the work of three principal architects spanning nearly eighty years: Sir William Chambers's New Public Offices (1776–96), Sir Robert Smirke's east extension for King's College (1829–35), and Sir James Pennethorne's west extension of offices to Lancaster Place (1853–56).

Architectural Character

Chambers's design represents a dignified neo-classical interpretation of established Palladianism, but with markedly Parisian neo-classical details and features of Piranesian originality in the river front. The design is not entirely resolved, notably in the scale of the dome. The work is executed in the finest masonry and includes excellent examples of late 18th-century sculpture by Carlini, Bacon, Cezacchi, Banks, Nollekens and Silton, together with Coade stone urns.

Both Smirke and, more remarkably for his date, Pennethorne laudably followed the precedent set by Chambers. Portland stone is used for all main elevations, with stock brick for rear and subsidiary courts. Roofs are slate and leaded.

The complex comprises three main storeys throughout, set above two-and-a-half storeys of basements. The Strand block, nine windows wide, features a rusticated arcaded ground floor with a central carriage archway that opens into a finely detailed triple vaulted and columned vestibule, giving access to the grand quadrangle beyond. The piano nobile has pilastered and pedimented windows with square architraved windows to the half storey second floor. Giant order Corinthian columns articulate the elevation, with full entablature and balustraded parapets flanking a three-bay central attic with wreathed oculi, statues on vertical accents and a crowning sculptural group.

The quadrangle sides repeat similar treatment but are fully developed across the width of the site behind the Strand. Projecting three-bay giant order dressed wings flank plainer subsidiary wings. The south, east and west ranges of the quadrangle are completely rusticated, with greater emphasis to the ground floor and giant order centre-piece pavilions. The south pavilion has a modest pedimented attic and dome, while the other two feature small cupolas. Arcaded ground floor fenestration and pedimented windows to the piano nobile of the pavilions provide further articulation. Rusticated gateways at the north ends of the side ranges link to the Strand side range and give access to subsidiary courts.

Smirke's King's College range extends to the east, twenty-five bays wide, with central and end pavilions featuring giant orders of columns and pilasters respectively. Pennethorne's western extension presents a thirteen-bay front to Lancaster Place flanked by four-bay projecting wings, admirably reworking Chambers's design.

River Front

The complex presents one great facade to the river, of which Chambers's original work forms the major portion. This monumental palace elevation is forty-five bays wide with a central five-bay giant order pavilion surmounted by a pediment-attic-dome. The most original feature is the giant ordered pedimented colonnade screens set on giant semicircular archways, providing the two major flank accents linking the wings. The massive arcaded basement and terrace features a central semicircular water arch and water gates flanked by pairs of giant rusticated Tuscan columns. The river front was originally raised directly over the Thames with water-gates providing access.

Interiors

A number of Chambers's very fine interiors survive. Particularly notable are the former rooms of the Royal Academy and the Learned Societies with their staircases. The Navy staircase, featuring a flying span, is located at the west end of the south block. Chimney pieces and doorcases of quality remain throughout.

Smirke's King's College retains a classical entrance hall and staircase on either side. A low great hall with chapel above was remodelled between 1861–72 by Sir George Gilbert Scott in Normano-Byzantine style with painted and mosaic decoration and an arcaded semi-domed altar apse.