Wellington Beehive

　　The official name of New Zealand’s Wellington Beehive is the New Zealand Parliament Buildings. It is situated at the intersection of Molesworth Street and Lambton Quay in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. It is called the Beehive primarily because its exterior bears a strong resemblance to a traditional beehive. The Wellington Beehive was designed by British architect Sir Basil Spence. It is said that the initial sketch was drawn on a napkin during a lunch meeting, and the preliminary design was completed in 1965.

　　The Wellington Beehive stands 72 meters tall and has fourteen floors in total — ten above ground and four below. The lobby entrance features a marble floor, wall panels made of stainless steel mesh, and a translucent glass ceiling. The "Virtualtourist" website ranked the Wellington Beehive among the world’s top ten ugliest buildings, describing it as “the executive wing of New Zealand’s Parliament Building looks like a slide projector dropped into a wedding cake, which is itself precariously balanced on a water wheel.” The Beehive is located near the Parliament Buildings, which feature Edwardian neoclassical architecture, and the stark contrast is almost embarrassing.

　　Wellington's Beehive Reason to visit: The ugliest building in New Zealand Continent: Oceania Country/Region: New Zealand Province/State: Wellington Region City: Wellington