The impossible to miss building of the Palace of Parliament is a multi-purpose one, containing both chambers of the Romanian Parliament. The construction is considered to be, by the World Records Academy, the world’s largest civilian building with an administrative function. It is also world’s most expensive administrative building and world’s heaviest building.
The Palace measures 270 m (890 ft.) by 240 m (790 ft.), 86 m (282 ft.) high, and 92 m (302 ft.) underground, featuring 1,100 rooms, 2 underground parking garages and is 12 stories tall, with four underground levels currently available for the general public and in use, and another four in different stages of completion. The building still has, to this day, 10% of it uncompleted. The floor space is measured at 340,000 m2 (3,700,000 sq. ft.).
The construction of this building began in 1983, with the cornerstone being laid on June 25th, 1984. The building was first intended to house all four major states institution (similar to the UK); however, communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu wanted this to be his personal residence.
The building is created using only Romanian-origin materials, in an eclectic neoclassical architectural style. It is estimated that one million cubic meters of marble, 3,500 tons of crystal, 700,000 tons of steel and bronze, 900,000 square meters of wood (including walnut, oak, sweet cherry, elm, sycamore maple) and 200,000 square meters of carpets of various dimensions were used in building and decorating this huge construction.
In order for the Palace of Parliament to be built, a whole hill and a neighbourhood (Uranus Hill) was completely razed to make room. 19 Orthodox churches, 6 Jewish synagogues, three Protestant Churches and 30,000 residences were completely wiped out. More than a symbol of communism, the Palace stands as a reminder of the price Romania had to pay to satisfy the whims of its dictator.
The easiest way to the palace is walking from the Unirii Square along Unirii Boulevard. The entrance is around to the right.
