Union Buildings

Pretoria, South Africa

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

Designed by architect Herbert Baker in neoclassical style and completed in 1913, the Union Buildings serve as the official seat of the South African Government and house the offices of the President of South Africa. Positioned atop Meintjeskop at the northern end of Arcadia in Pretoria, the imposing complex occupies the city's highest point and commands extensive gardens bordered by Government Avenue, Vermeulen Street East, Church Street, and other thoroughfares. A South African national heritage site and iconic emblem of the nation's democracy, the Union Buildings function as a primary centre of political life—hosting presidential inaugurations and becoming so integral to governance that "the Buildings" and "Arcadia" have become synonymous with the South African government itself. It ranks among Pretoria's most visited tourist attractions.