Bush House

From LondonHotels.in

Bush House is a building on the Strand in Westminster, London. The BBC World Service is based in this building and will be until the lease expires in 2008.

Bush House was built by the New York, Bush Terminal Company. The building was the notion of Irving T Bush, an American businessman, who wanted to build a store where consumers could purchase several kinds of goods and services, under one roof and in one location.

The plans were drawn up by American architect Harvey W Corbett and included accommodation, galleries and a library. Unfortunately, due to a slump in the markets at the end of 1921, the plans had to be re-evaluated.

The building consists of a centre block, with four wings, which were developed into offices. The centre block was constructed from Portland Stone and has magnificent marble walls and hardwood floors. Unconventionally, the foyers are heated by radiators, which are set within the stone walls.

The grand, main entrance has two majestic statues and four tall columns. The statues represent Great Britain and America. Between the two statues is an altar, which is embossed with a Celtic cross. The statues and the cross are made of Indiana stone and it is predicted that they will have survive for over 200 years.

By the time the wings had all opened in 1935, the building had already been dubbed the most expensive in the world.