Westminster Abbey is set to gain a new reception space.
Westminster Abbey, a famous royal church in London, is a must-see for more than a million tourists each year. Now, there's a plan to improve entrance management by constructing a new visitor area at the site. This new area will be named after Charles III.
Westminster Abbey, where significant coronations and royal weddings have taken place through the ages, is a well-known destination for travelers from around the world. The French Gothic-style building accommodates over a million visitors annually. Media outlets have revealed that the church is set to get an enlivened reception hall, expected to streamline visitor flow in the future.
The Daily Mail reports that the £13 million (around €15 million) building, designed in the style of French Gothic architecture, is planned on the west side of the church and will be named after King Charles III, who was crowned in Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023. The contemporary entrance portrays a more majestic welcome to the church.
The project was introduced in 2019 but put on pause due to the pandemic. However, according to the Daily Mail, Charles III has already approved the designs for Dean of Westminster's one-story extension, envisioned by British architect Ptolemy Dean. The project is predicted to be completed by 2026.
The dean of Westminster Abbey emphasized that no taxpayer funds will go towards this project. The £13 million (€15 million) required for construction will be entirely raised through donations.
Criticism has arisen from architectural critic Tim Abrahams, who disparages the building's "minimalist" and "nondescript" design while discussing it with the Daily Mail. According to him, this "simple, inconspicuous, and undistinguished" structure reflects Charles III's preference for unobtrusive and anonymous structures and therefore neglects the expensive quality of the building. He stated that the new entrance hall is a "very bland building" and a "wasted opportunity" at a high cost.
