National Museum of Wales

Classical style combining Grecian Doric and simplified version of the Baroque of City Hall and Law Courts. Portland stone; lead dome. Generally one massive storey on basement; small-pane metal glazing. Finely proportioned entrance front faces south-east; double flight of granite steps leads up to a recessed portico of coupled Doric columns surmounted by entablature and balustraded parapet, granite architrave to doorway with bronze doors; above, recessed attic storey and above this semi-circular centre dome of entrance hall, 30 metres high, supported on octagonal drum with concave corners (heraldic beasts to facets), and lunettes. To either side of centre portico are flanking wings of 3 bays with horizontal rustication; tall rectangular windows; centre bay projects forward window flanked by Doric columns in antis surmounted by enablature and attic adorned with groups of sculpture. Long west wing in same vein with 2 advanced blocks with 4 Doric columns flanked by piers enclosing 3 tall windows. East wing with central semi-circular lecture theatre of 13 windows; theatre flanked by doorways with fluted Doric columns. Returns of E and W wings have tall round-headed windows. Between wings modern courtyard galleries (opened 1993).

Magnificent spacious entrance hall with polished marble columns and floor. Central octagonal space beneath central dome with thermal windows (glazed with original pink glass). Tall piers, folded round inner angles of octagon. To each side, lower section with coffered ceilings and gallery round entire hall at high level on Ionic columns. To each end, broad staircases run up passing below gallery bridges and divide to give access to gallery, stairs top lit by glazed saucer domes. At upper level of octagon, stairs up to balcony off which are Library and Courtroom, both panelled, with Doric pilasters, and thermal windows, also other offices. Display galleries to front of building (Joseph Gallery, Pyke Thompson Gallery) in classical style with saucer domes. Semi-circular lecture theatre (said to be based on Ledoux's Besancon Theatre (1770s) with clerestorey windows behind unfluted Doric columns; semi-circular gallery over theatre. Other galleries in rear wings in various styles. Modern spacious light courtyard galleries (1993).