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25 Beehive Reception Hall
Panorama of the Reception Hall in the Beehive.
Beehive
The Beehive houses the offices of Government Ministers, plus several dining rooms and reception areas. The Reception Hall pictured here features a John Drawbridge mural made of painted aluminium strips - a shifting wall of colour.
The story of the Beehive, the most recognisable building in the parliamentary complex, is intriguing. In 1964, the Government asked a British architect to help solve the problem of its aging buildings. Rumour has it that he sketched his idea on the back of a napkin. The name Beehive came from the brand of a box of matches. Despite official misgivings, it stuck.
Some described the design as 'a shocker' while others praised it. The Government Architect who had to turn the circular design into something practical certainly had a difficult job. Today, visitors to the Beehive easily get lost.
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