Beehive

The Beehive – Heart of Wellington - SilverKris

"Recognizable for its circular, layered, beehive-like form, this building serves as the Executive Wing of New Zealand’s parliamentary complex, housing the Prime Minister’s and Cabinet members’ offices and hosting Cabinet meetings. Standing 72 metres tall with ten above-ground and four below-ground floors, it was built in stages between 1969 and 1979 after being conceptualized in 1964 by Scottish architect Sir Basil Spence; its unconventional design attracted criticism at the time but has since been re-evaluated and is now registered as a Category I heritage building by Heritage New Zealand and even appears on the New Zealand twenty-dollar note. Located in Wellington, the capital, the parliamentary precinct is currently pursuing UNESCO World Heritage status for the site, and the building is shared with the public through materials such as a downloadable printable colouring page that highlights its distinctive architecture." - Shermaine Tay