Why is Buckingham Palace so ugly?

Your facade fools no one, OP, dear.

The older courtyard facade is much better. The “front” is rather hotelesque.

Built in 1703, originally only 1/4 its present size.

It was built piecemeal, and was not originally supposed to be nearly as large as it is.

I think its one of those buildings designed to look more impressive from distance than up close. When they were originally doing that facade the Victoria memorial wasn't there. You'd be able to stand at the other end of the Mall and the only thing in front of you was this giant imposing building.

It does look piecemeal at R3, especially that cluster on the left side.

Compared to The Continent, English architecture, food, and culture is boring.

It was much more attractive before Victoria enclosed the quadrangle.

The original u shaped building had a victory arch as an entrance. The arch was relocated down the street and the two wings connected, creating the courtyard and the balcony facade. Everyone who watched Victoria with Jenna Coleman saw screens of the original buck house. It is why the two buildings have different colored stone.

That's true, R7. It's a shame the US had to borrow so much of it when they could have taken the best of France and Italy.

Why no greenery at the palace I always wondered

r11 Its got a park in front of it and an extensive garden out back.

The Victorian facade looks boxy, like a refrigerator. It looks like there is a machine room on top. The pediments and columns are poorly proportioned.

R7 You'll recall that some years ago there was a good-looking plan to redo the whole area in front of the palace, though of course not the palace itself. But Philip vetoed it on the grounds it looked "too European."

R14 - Rich, coming from someone with Danish, German and Greek roots.

And don't forget that the Marble Arch in Hyde Park was originally set as the entrance to Buckingham House/Palace.

Sorry I meant the “Edwardian Facade”.

There is a reason that every Royal has absolutely fucking hated Buckingham Palace. They would never live there if they had a choice.

[quote] every Royal has absolutely fucking hated Buckingham Palace

Do you think that mere architecture arouses so much foul-mouthed passion?

I suspect there may be other reasons.

r19, horrific sanitation.

I gifted it to my power bottom boy toy.

The facade was re-done in 1913.

[quote] every Royal has absolutely fucking hated Buckingham Palace

Queen Victoria didn't. She loved the chance to move away from her controlling mother at Kensington Palace when she was proclaimed queen.