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Whitehall, London, is a road which is both famous and public and yet at the same time an intimate and private space used by those who work here. This juxtaposition is created by the people who use the space, the buildings which occupy the space and the wider public perception of the social institution that is synonymous with Whitehall. This paper will explore some the influences that inform that juxtaposition and demonstrate how as time passes Whitehall is a space that is remade time and time again.

Just like City Road in the course material Whitehall is occupied by different groups of people; throughout the day Whitehall is a space occupies by two main types of people; those who call the street their work place and tourists. To deal with the latter group first tourists to London visit Whitehall in thousands each day to catch a glimpse of the place which is seen as the heart of British democracy. They take photos of the buildings in their splendour and attempt to catch sight of the most powerful political figure in the UK. Their presence on Whitehall creates a carnival atmosphere which gives the perception that Whitehall is a public space that anyone can access and explore.

This public perception of Whitehall is enhanced by the grand imposing buildings whose architecture is designed to deliver an image of grandeur and power. The buildings and the street furniture shape the street by giving focusing attention on key areas such as the cenotaph, the Foreign Office and the Houses of Parliament. Buildings with a much less glamorous image such as the Department of Health, or the Department for Climate Change are set back from the public roadway or down the small side streets that go off the main road. This is a clear indicator of the need to project an image of power and importance and reinforces the idea that the way people interact with a space is “interconnected with the material objects, infrastructures and the environment” (Blakeley et al., 2009, p.29)...