Final answer:
Barry & Pugin employed the Gothic Revival style for the Houses of Parliament due to its traditional symbolism and as a reaction to industrialization. The structure exhibits Gothic features like pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, and elaborate decorations that emphasize verticality and light.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Gothic Revival style employed in the building of the Houses of Parliament by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin was chosen for its traditional and conservative symbolism, contrasting the radicalism of Neoclassicism. This style was also part of a reaction against industrialization and the machine production aesthetic. The Gothic Revival in architecture sought to revive medieval Gothic forms which were appreciated for their complexity, verticality, and spiritual symbolism.
Barry & Pugin's use of the Gothic revival style in the Houses of Parliament is evident through several architectural features. These include the prevalent use of pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, slender columns that extend to the roof, and large windows allowing for more light. The detailed decoration includes intricate tracery, carvings, and numerous patterns that cover almost all surfaces, typical of the historic Gothic style.
The Houses of Parliament's design mirrors the characteristics of traditional Gothic architecture, which evolved from Romanesque architecture during the 12th century. This style was initially developed as part of cathedral construction in France and then spread across Europe, symbolizing a departure from the heavy Romanesque style towards structures that appeared to reach towards the heavens with large stained-glass windows and lighter, more open spaces.