Patterned Progress
Beneath mosaic vaults and a looming octagon tower, politicians have long mingled in the central lobby that lies at the core of the Palace of Westminster. But should they seek inspiration as they exchange opinion and defend arguments, their attention may be drawn down, as easily as up. They are standing on richly patterned encaustic floor tiles designed by Augustus Pugin, a key component in his iconic Gothic Revival interior. Yet appearances can be deceptive: most of the tiles weren’t made in the 19th century but in the far more recent past.
Replacements on a
