The 'Genius of Place': Mitigating Stench in the New Palace of Westminster before the Great Stink

A re-examination of London's Great Stink of 1858 reveals that the Palace of Westminster's initial ventilation systems, designed to mitigate miasma using metabolic concepts, actually contributed to the stench crisis. These systems, intended to protect MPs from environmental pollution, failed due to construction challenges and a shift in ventilation philosophy, leaving them vulnerable when degradation peaked in 1858. The study highlights the complex interplay between technoscience, socio-political factors, architecture, and nature, underscoring how these elements collectively shaped the event.

Hillier, J., & Bell, S. (2010). The ‘Genius of Place’: Mitigating Stench in the New Palace of Westminster before the Great Stink. The London Journal, 35(1), 22–38. https://doi.org/10.1179/174963210x12598738033378