Governments have created some of the world’s finest architecture—from palaces and executive mansions to legislatures and courthouses. There are libraries, city halls, and even some pretty post offices. But for this list, we look to the middle, to the buildings that serve the inner workings of vast bureaucracies. All are office buildings, but not the kind that usually receives much attention from architects and critics. The buildings on this list range from the stately to the state-of-the-art. From historic to brand-new. Here are nine buildings that any bureaucrat would be proud to work in.
Ministry of Agriculture, Kazan, Russia
In Kazan, the Russian Ministry of Agriculture is like Beaux Arts from a fairy-tale realm.
Orange County Government Center, Goshen, New York
The complicated grid of cubes in New York’s Orange County Government Center makes it one of the finest examples of Brutalist architecture. Architect Paul Rudolph’s building even houses a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office, earning it a solid spot on this list.
Ministry of Defense, Paris
The new French Ministry of Defense headquarters in Paris was inaugurated in 2015. The fluid design conveys a careful balance between stately force and transparent humanism.
Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C.
Adjacent to the White House, The Eisenhower Executive Office Building holds many of the U.S.’s executive offices. It was completed in 1888 in the densely ornate French Second Empire style and is the nation’s most prominent example of the style.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Moscow
Imposing and impenetrable. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow is the quintessential tower of bureaucracy. This building is one of the Russian capital’s Seven Sisters, all built in the monumental Stalinist style.
Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), Cheltenham, UK
It’s the UK’s take on the Pentagon. The Government Communications Headquarters, or “The Doughnut,” as it is called, opened in 2004 and contains one of Britain’s intelligence agencies.
Ministry of Finance, Rome
The majestic Italian Ministry of Finance in Rome is known as the Palazzo delle Finanze. The palazzo style was popular in the 19th and 20th centuries and was inspired by the grand homes of local wealthy families during the Italian Renaissance.
Ministry of Internal Affairs, Tbilisi, Georgia
Behind this loop of glass ribbon is Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. The building is intended to be a symbol for the capital city, Tbilisi, and for all of Georgia.
Ministry of Health, Buenos Aires, Argentina
The Ministry of Health in Buenos Aires has been outfitted with a giant wrought-iron sculpture of former first lady Eva Perón—a bold and unique commemoration.
