Kensington Palace, London, England;(1605); Neoclassical

         In sixteen eighty-nine, the originally named Nottingham Palace was built as a two-story palace to house the king and queen on their small country retreats, while they were away from their thrones. This was originally owned by William the second and Mary the second during their monarchy. It was later transformed into a building in which the monarchy could be housed and in eighteen thirty-seven Kensington Palace took its place. In sixteen ninety-eight King William the third and Queen Mary the second commissioned plans from Sir Christopher Wren. Queen Mary II was always present on the site and wanted to help with the construction. In Sixteen Ninety-eight both the king and queen moved into the building. The King and Queen had many balls take place to show off the new expansion of the palace. The ball showed off the ornate rooms, the elegant and large staircases, and most of all their divine halls. After time, Mary passed away in Sixteen Ninety-four from the smallpox disease, and William, depressed from his loss, stopped hosting the extravagant parties and held somber gatherings, and concerts that addressed the fall of his wife Mary. The king continued expanding the palace, creating an entirely new gallery on the south side of the building. After he enlarged the plans in which Wren originally created. Just eight years later he passed away from a horse-riding injury, leaving behind the rather large establishment.  

This was then passed down to the next queen Anne. Queen Anne didn’t like to stay at the palace often (Since she much more preferred the Hampton court palace), however she did have a large part in the design of the palaces gardens. In the gardens she created a greenhouse, and inside she offered a terrace with trees as well as planted trees in ceramic pots placed throughout the palace. Other than this she commissioned Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor to design an orange nursery which would later completely surpass the greenhouse when fully grown.

  After the Queen a young architect, Nicholas Hawksmoor, took it onto himself to create ornery detail, such as carvings and pillars that created an intent for a more inviting and less receded palace to the guests. This took place in in seventeen hundred and five. Leading to summer parties and public gatherings at the palace, these renovations brought more of the public back to the palace. In seventeen fourteen, king George the first took the throne and hired William Kent (an artist, designer , and architecture) to add art, furniture, and paintings to the buildings, to help the space achieve a more refined scene to the public. King George the first and Queen Caroline the first did not change the space, yet they were known for having large parties to show off the spaces to the public, discussing the art and architecture, and talking about the history of the palace itself. Later on King George helped to replenish and reshape the garden in the palace, and after the death of the King, the parties once again stopped and shifted to a somber mood. The palace continued to house many of the royal occupants such as the Princess of Wales, the Duke, and the Duchess of Cambridge along with their kids, and most recently it was visited by Prince Harry. Many of these people have continues the parties, and exciting events.

The entrance to is set back, and a large gold and black steel gate is present at the front. After entering through this gate, you are presented with the building, which is a red brick building that appears somewhat symmetrical other than the left piece of the building which continues to create a further expansion of the palace. Once inside the palace there are wood panels on the walls that express the function of each room, while the King’s gallery is lined in red. Throughout the palace large marble columns, and ornate gold artwork is placed to represent the importance of rooms. On the first floor the cupola room is today used for public wedding receptions and is cladded in ornate gold floral decorations along with its gold statues, which surround the central clock. The kings gallery whose entrance is beside that of the cupola room is a large room full of paintings, less decorated in gold, yet the walls show status through their red velvet panels. Black stairs run up the palace, and each landing become a black and white checkerboard pattern. This leads to the upper floors, which are for the Queen and King, creating more private spaces that are less public than the first floor.

Kensington palace

Floor Plan

Work Cited

https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/kensington-gardens/things-to-see-and-do/kensington-palace

https://www.hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace/

Law, Ernest. Kensington Palace, the Birthplace of the Queen: Being an Historical Guide to the State Rooms, Pictures and Gardens. George Bell and Sons, 1899.