Editing Union Buildings (section)

==Architecture==
[[File:Union Buildings Eastern Wing.jpg|thumb|The eastern wing of The Union Buildings represents the English population of South Africa]]
These buildings, built from light [[sandstone]], were designed by the architect [[Sir Herbert Baker]]<ref name="RSA-Presidency">{{Cite web |title=Offices |url=http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/main.asp?include=about/presbuildings/office.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107051924/http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/main.asp?include=about%2Fpresbuildings%2Foffice.htm |archive-date=7 January 2009 |access-date=13 February 2009 |website=The Presidency}}</ref> in the English monumental style and are 285&nbsp;m long. They have a semi-circular shape, with the two wings at the sides, this serves to represent the union of a formerly divided people.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Christenson |first=Ellen |date=1996 |title=Herbert Baker, the Union Buildings, and the politics of architectural patronage |journal=SAJAAH |volume=6 |issue=1–4 |pages=1–9 |hdl-access=free |hdl=2263/546}}</ref> The clock chimes are identical to those of [[Big Ben]] in London.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Union Buildings in Pretoria |url=https://www.southafrica.to/provinces/Gauteng/towns/Pretoria/UnionBuildings/Photos/UnionBuildings.php |website=Southafrica.to |access-date=9 February 2022 |archive-date=9 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209182049/https://www.southafrica.to/provinces/Gauteng/towns/Pretoria/UnionBuildings/Photos/UnionBuildings.php |url-status=live }}</ref> The east and west wings, as well as the twin-domed towers, represent two languages, English and [[Afrikaans]], and the inner court was designed and built to symbolise the [[Union of South Africa]].<ref name="southafrica-travel.net">{{Cite web |title=Union Building in Pretoria (South Africa) |url=http://www.southafrica-travel.net/north/a1pret03.htm |url-status=dead |website=southafrica-travel.net |access-date=4 December 2009 |archive-date=23 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090823053950/http://www.southafrica-travel.net/north/a1pret03.htm }}</ref> These buildings are considered by many to be the architect's greatest achievement and a South African [[architectural]] [[masterpiece]]. The Nelson Mandela statue in Sandton City's [[Nelson Mandela Square]] was commissioned originally to stand on the spot where Nelson Mandela gave his inaugural address.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Riviera |url=https://www.sa-venues.com/attractionsga/riviera.php |website=SA-Venues |access-date=9 February 2022 |archive-date=9 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209182049/https://www.sa-venues.com/attractionsga/riviera.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

The building was sited on a disused quarry, which now makes up the [[amphitheatre]]. The matching statues on top of the domed towers are Atlas, holding up the world, sculpted by Abraham Broadbent. The statue on the domed rostrum in the amphitheatre between the wings is [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]], a mythic Roman messenger and a god of trade, sculpted by George Ness. The closest suburb to the Union Buildings is [[Arcadia, Pretoria|Arcadia]], which means "Playground of Gods". Pretoria has the second largest number of embassies in the world, after Washington, D.C., most of which are located in or near Arcadia.
[[File:CentralPretoria.jpg|thumb|View from the gardens]]
The design of each level differs, and therefore each stone had to be individually cut. The Architectural styles of the building ranges from the lower levels' [[Edwardian architecture|Edwardian style]] to the top levels' [[Cape Dutch architecture|Cape Dutch design]] with shutters on the windows. The windows from bottom to top are elongated and become shorter towards the top floor. This is to give the illusion of height.

The Union Buildings are the site of presidential inaugurations. The official offices of the president are on the left-hand side of the Union Buildings, and the South African national flag is flown on the left-hand side if the president is in office.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Africa – Pretoria and Surrounding |url=http://www.roediger.co.za/Sunset%20pta.htm |website=Sunset Africa Tours |access-date=4 December 2009 |archive-date=14 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914022107/http://www.roediger.co.za/Sunset%20pta.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Buildings are divided into three sections; the left offices, amphitheatre, and right offices. All are 95&nbsp;metres in length. Each offices block contains three inner courtyards providing light and air to the offices. Each block has a basement and three floors above ground. The central curved building behind the colonnade houses the committee rooms, a library and conference rooms while the basement contains the kitchen, dining rooms and lounges.

The interior is treated in the Cape Dutch style: carved teak fanlights, heavy doors, dark ceiling beams contrasting with white plaster walls and heavy wood furniture.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Union Building |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/istudio/03pretoria/research/UNION_BUILDING.htm |url-status=dead |website=ibiblio.org |access-date=15 December 2009 |archive-date=16 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100816135819/http://www.ibiblio.org/istudio/03pretoria/research/UNION_BUILDING.htm }}</ref>