Austrian Parliament Building

The Austrian Parliament Building stands on the Ringstrasse in the Innere Stadt district of Vienna, near the Hofburg Palace and the Palace of Justice, and is the meeting place of the two houses of the Austrian Parliament, the National Council and the Federal Council. Designed by Theophil Hansen and built between 1874 and 1883 to house the two chambers of the Imperial Council of Austria Hungary, it takes its Greek Revival, Neoclassical form from the Zappeion Hall in Athens, its facade lined with Corinthian pillars, bronze quadriga sculptures and extensive marble ornament. The building covers more than 13,500 square meters, one of the largest along the Ringstrasse, and holds over 100 rooms including the National Council Chamber, the Federal Council Chamber, the former House of Deputies chamber, committee rooms, libraries and dining halls. Its central Hall of Pillars, about 40 by 23 meters, holds 24 monolithic Corinthian columns and serves as the ceremonial focus of the building.