Marble Arch Pride in London Illumination Pictures, Hyde Park Building Photos, Architecture, Lighting
Marble Arch London Pride Illumination
Hyde Park Building in rainbow flag colours, west London, England, UK
2 July 2019
For the first time Marble Arch illuminated in rainbow flag colours to celebrate Pride in London 2019
Marble Arch illuminated to support Pride in London 2019. Images courtesy of Marble Arch London BID, English Heritage and Westminster City Council:
photos © Michael Pilkington
Marble Arch Illumination for London Pride
For the first time ever, Marble Arch – one of London’s most recognisable landmarks – has been illuminated with the colours of the iconic rainbow flag in celebration of Pride in London 2019, which takes place on Saturday, 6 July.
Organised by Marble Arch London BID, in collaboration with English Heritage – who care for the National monument – and Westminster City Council, the historic Marble Arch monument was transformed for one night only to create a highly visible emblem on the capital’s skyline in celebration of an inclusive, diverse and open London.
Completed in 1833, John Nash’s famous Grade I listed triumphal arch has hosted royal processions as well as political movements and marches, including its role as a principal place of congregation for the women’s suffrage movement over one hundred years ago.
Kay Buxton, Chief Executive, Marble Arch London BID, comments: “Marble Arch has had a long history as a symbol of rightful causes, and it’s only fitting that the monument should now play its part in embracing this important event, the success of which shows how much has been achieved over the years for LGBT+ rights in the UK.
“Of course, unfortunately the LGBT+ community can still face levels of discrimination and intolerance, and this is why it is so important that organisations and institutions continue to support Pride in highly visible ways. We are therefore extremely proud to have had the opportunity to transform this much-loved London landmark in such a dramatic way, working closely with our partners Westminster City Council and the custodians of Marble Arch, English Heritage, to make this possible.”
Cllr Ian Adams, LGBT+ Lead Member, Westminster City Council said: “Lighting up Marble Arch in rainbow colours is a fun and eye-catching way of celebrating the diversity of Westminster’s community as we count down to the biggest LGBT+ parade in the UK. Over 500 groups will be parading through our streets at this year’s Pride in London and transforming Marble Arch is just one of the ways we will be supporting this large-scale and important celebration of the LGBT+ community.”
Alison Naylor, Free Sites Partnership Manager, English Heritage, added: “The symbol of Marble Arch is interwoven with the history of London, iconic enough that it even has a tube station named after it, and English Heritage are pleased that the landmark will act as a vivid and visible celebration for Pride month.
As a charity, we are keen to tell the diverse stories of England, having recently hosted our first Pride event at a historic property, and our staff will be celebrating on 6 July with the Museum Pride London Network.”
Marble Arch now joins a roll call of famous London landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, the MI6 building and the London Eye, which have all been previously transformed into the rainbow colours for previous Pride in London celebrations.
Image courtesy of Marble Arch London BID, English Heritage and Westminster City Council. © Michael Pilkington.
About Marble Arch London BID
Established in April 2016, Marble Arch London BID provides a strong, collective voice for approximately 200 member businesses and organisations located in the Marble Arch and Edgware Road district. The BID covers the area from the northern stretch of Park Lane along Edgware Road up to the Marylebone Flyover including the Marble Arch national monument, Connaught Village within the Hyde Park Estate and Seymour Place on the Portman Estate in Marylebone.
As well as delivering a full range of management services to maintain a high standard trading environment for all businesses, the BID promotes the Marble Arch corridor as a welcoming destination, connecting the diverse local community and businesses as well as creating a vibrant shopping, dining and leisure quarter, celebrating cultural heritage and deliver an enhanced public realm.
To achieve this, the BID is working in close collaboration with local businesses, as well as wider partners including Westminster City Council, Transport for London, London Underground, the Metropolitan Police and Greater London Authority. https://marble-arch.london/
About English Heritage
English Heritage cares for over 400 historic buildings, monuments and sites – from world-famous prehistoric sites to grand medieval castles, from Roman forts on the edges of the empire to a Cold War bunker. Through these, we bring the story of England to life for over 10 million people each year. Registered charity no. 1140351 www.english-heritage.org.uk
Location: Hyde Park London, England, UK
Architecture in London
Contemporary Architecture in London
London Architecture Links – chronological list
Another Hyde Park monument on e-architect:
Albert Memorial, Kensington Gore, Hyde Park / Kensington Gardens, West London
Date of consruction: 1872-76
Architect: George Gilbert Scott
photo © Nick Weall
Albert Memorial
Major building to the west of Hyde Park:
Royal Albert Hall, Kensington
photo © Adrian Welch
Royal Albert Hall
Major building to the south of Hyde Park:
Natural History Museum
Building to the west, in Kensington Gardens:
Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2009
Website: Marble Arch London
British Capital Architectural Designs
London Architecture Walking Tours
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