Union Building, South Africa

The Union Building of South Africa is the most beautiful government residence in the world. Sir Herbert Baker was the architect of this 275 m long building and had it built in the English monumental style from light sandstone for many South Africans. It does indeed look majestic and lends a solemn environment to the official acts of the respective President. The Union Building has a half-round shape. The two wings at the sides represent the Boerish and the English part of the population.

As the first free and common elections in South Africa in 1994 the Union Building has been the residence of the presidency - today Thabo Mbeki - and his government. The Parliament spends the winter months in Pretoria, during the summer months it changes to Cape Town.

The Union Buildings are located on Meintjies Kop, Pretoria, and form the official seat of the South African government. They contain the offices of the President of South Africa. They are almost certainly best remembered as the place where South Africa's first democratically-elected president, Nelson Mandela, was inaugurated in May 1994.

The Union Buildings, were built from light sandstone, were designed by the architect Sir Herbert Baker in the English monumental style and are 275 m long. They have a half-round shape, with the two wings at the sides, this can serve to represent the union of formerly divided people.

The cornerstone was laid in November 1910, shortly after the Union of South Africa - for which the buildings are named - was formed. Taking 1,265 workers over three years to build, the structure was completed in 1913 at a total cost of £1,310,640 for the building and £350,000 for the site.

The noteworthy are the gardens, which are planted exclusively with indigenous plants, surrounding the buildings as well as the 9,000 seat amphitheatre.