564. Sir Robert Smirke, The British Museum,

London, begun in 1823 (United Kingdom)

One of the largest museums in the world, the British Museum houses some 3.2 km of exhibition space. The somewhat severe character of the original Greek Revival building reflects the reforming zeal of the Neoclassicists, who attempted to give Classical architecture a more rigorous archaeological exactitude. The earliest part to be built was the East Wing, housing the King’s Library. The famous entrance façade of the South Wing, finished in 1847, is fronted by 44 huge Ionic columns, their capitals based on those of the Temple of Athena Polias at Priene. The pediment sculptures by Sir Richard Westmacott form an allegorical composition representing The Progress of Civilisation. Appropriately but controversially, this icon of Neoclassical architecture houses the famous Elgin marbles, taken from the Parthenon in the early 19th century. In 1846 the architect’s brother, Sidney Smirke, took over construction and added the famous Round Reading Room (1854-57). The latest addition is Norman Foster’s Great Court, opened in 2000, built within the central open quadrangle after the departure of the British Library; it features a glass and steel roof with 1656 uniquely formed panes of glass.