Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Don't Miss
The Exterior
The architect Enric Miralles (1955-2000) believed that a building could be a work of art.
However, this weird concrete confection has left many people scratching their heads in
confusion. What does it all mean? The strange forms of the exterior are all symbolic in
some way, from the oddly shaped
projecting windows
on the west wall (inspired by the
silhouette of
Reverend Robert Walker Skating on Duddingston Loch
, one of Scotland's
most famous paintings), to the unusual, inverted-L-shaped
panels
on the facade (repres-
enting a curtain being drawn aside, ie open government). Even the ground plan of the
whole complex represents a 'flower of democracy rooted in Scottish soil' (best seen look-
ing down from Salisbury Crags).
The Debating Chamber
The
Main Hall
, inside the public entrance, has a low, triple-arched ceiling of polished
concrete, like a cave, or cellar, or castle vault. It is a dimly lit space, the starting point for
a metaphorical journey from this relative darkness up to the
Debating Chamber
(sitting
directly above the Main Hall), which is, in contrast, a palace of light - the light of demo-
cracy. This magnificent chamber is the centrepiece of the parliament, designed not to glor-
ify but to humble the politicians who sit within it. The windows face Calton Hill, allowing
Members of Scottish Parliament (MSPs) to look up to its monuments (reminders of the
Scottish Enlightenment), while the massive, pointed oak beams of the roof are suspended
by steel threads above the MSPs' heads like so many Damoclean swords.
Top Tips
›
The public areas of the Parliament Building - the Main Hall, where there is an exhibition, a
shop and cafe, and the public gallery in the Debating Chamber - are open to visitors (tickets
needed for public gallery - see website for details).
›
You can also take a free, one-hour guided tour (advance booking recommended).
