9 Stunning Interiors of Presidential Palaces Around the World
As a interior designer, there is nothing more grand and marvelous than the interiors of presidential palaces.
Becoming the leader of a country comes with both tremendous responsibilities, as well as rewards for all the hard decision-making and stress. One perk is to be able to reside in these magnificent residences in the country.
More importantly, they were home to some of the world’s most revolutionary figures during some of the most memorable events in world history.
1. Ak Orda Presidential Palace, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
Situated in Kazakhstan’s new capital city of Nur-Sultan, the palace boasts of over 35,000 m² of floor area. It has altogether four levels, with the first level containing conference halls and the Winter Garden.
The second floor houses offices for the presidential staff, the third floor is reserved for foreign dignitaries, and the fourth floor has a meeting hall. The palace features a luxurious gold color scheme with 21 types of marble used for the floors.
2. The White House, Washington D.C., USA
No list of presidential palaces is complete without the most famous one of them all, the White House. It has been the official residence of every sitting US president since the first one, George Washington.
It has a vast interior with six levels to house the president, vice president and presidential staff. It has an impressive 55,000 square feet of floor space with 132 rooms and 35 baths. Perhaps the most famous of the rooms is the Oval Office, which is the president’s office space and the Lincoln Bedroom.
3. Grand Kremlin Palace, Moscow, Russia
The Kremlin is another memorable presidential residence in world history. Having survived attacks during both World Wars, it is now the official residence of Russia’s president. It has a total floor space of 25,000 m², and five reception halls.
Featuring a rich gold color palette and decorated with elaborate artwork, it has one of the most stunning presidential palace interiors in the world.
4. Hofburg Palace, Vienna, Austria
The Hofburg Palace in Vienna is another example of a presidential palace with rich culture and history. It dates back to the 13th century and is a classic Baroque masterpiece.
It served as the residence for the emperor of Austria, and now is the official residence of the President of Austria. It covers an impressive 240,000 m² of space, 19 courtyards and houses 2,600 rooms. It is one of the largest presidential palaces in the world.
5. Palácio da Alvorada, Brasilia, Brazil
This stunning presidential palace stands out from the historic, traditional European palaces we’ve seen so far. It follows a very elegant, modern style of architecture with minimalist colors like whites and greys. It is one of the youngest presidential palaces on the list.
Designed by Oscar Niemeyer, an architect known for pioneering modern architectural styles, it was finished in 1958. It is known for its signature quirky marble columns that reflect beautifully on the water ‘mirror’ underneath. It is also one of the smaller palaces on the list, with a floor area of just 7,000 m² and three floors.
6. Élysée Palace, Paris, France
This building dates back to the 18th century and has been used as the official residence of every French president since the mid-1800s. It has 365 rooms and three floors, with the ground floor being used to meet foreign dignitaries.
The first floor contains the ‘Gold Room’ that French presidents have always used as a study. The interior is similar to other ‘historical’ European palaces, with rich gold and red tones, extensive artwork, colorful carpets and chandeliers.
7. Presidential Complex, Ankara, Turkey
This palace is the youngest presidential residence, built only a few years ago to use as the official residence of Turkish president Erdogan. It reportedly cost over $600 million, a massive floor space of 300,000 m² and has 1,150 rooms.
It has a very modern design, with a uniquely designed staircase and even a botanical garden. The president’s area itself is 30 times the size of the White House!
8. Bellevue Palace, Berlin, Germany
This palace has been the official presidential residence for about two decades. The palace has three wings and two floors, and follows an Early Neoclassical style of architecture. It was finished in the late 18th century by Michael Phillip Daniel Boumann, a German architect. The interior features stunning and contrasting tones of cream and dark browns.
9. Prague Castle, Prague, Czech Republic
This presidential palace is one of the oldest (built in the 9th century) and makes its way into the Guiness Book of World Records as the world’s largest ancient castle. It occupies a space of around 70,000 m². Its interiors have light tones that are richly outlined in gold.
