Father and son – iconic architects
Two of London’s most iconic buildings were respectively the work of a father and son, Charles and John Barry. Sir Charles Barry was the architect of the Houses of Parliament, including the globally recognised St. Stephen’s Clock Tower (home of Big Ben). His son, Sir John Wolfe-Barry (7 December 1836 – 22 January 1918) was responsible for the construction of Tower Bridge.
Sir Charles Barry also had a role in another of London’s iconic structures with his remodelling of Trafalgar Square around Nelson’s Column. The Column itself was constructed between 1840 and 1843 to a design by William Railton. The other globally recognisable London constructions include St. Paul’s (Sir Christopher Wren), the London Eye (David Marks and Julia Barfield) and 30 St Mary Axe (the Gherkin by Lord Foster of Thames Bank).
Whether Renzo Piano’s Shard London Bridge, or any of the other towers being built in the City, enter this exclusive club is yet to be seen.
