Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
EDINBURGH'S CONTROVERSIAL PARLIAMENT
Made up of various linked elements rather than one single building, the unique design of the
new
Scottish Parliament
complex was the vision of Catalan architect
Enric Miralles
,
whose death in 2000, halfway through the building process, caused more than a few ripples
of uncertainty as to whether the famously whimsical designer had in fact set down his final
draft. Initial estimates for the cost of the building were tentatively put at £40 million; by the
time the Queen cut the ribbon in October 2004, the final bill was over £400 million. A major
public inquiry into the overspend blamed costing failures early in the project and criticized
the spendthrift attitude of politicians and civil servants alike, yet the building is still an
impressive - if imperfect - testament to the ambition of Miralles. While locals still mutter over
the cost and the oddness of the design, the building has won over the majority of the
general architectural community, scooping numerous prizes including, in 2005, the most
prestigious in Britain, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
Stirling Prize
. Among the
most memorable features of the building are the fanciful motifs and odd architectural
signatures running through the design, including the anvil-shaped panels which clad the
exterior and the extraordinary windows of the o
ces shaped like the profile of a mountain or
a section of the Forth Rail Bridge.
The stark concrete of the building's interior may not be to all tastes, but while some parts of the
design are undoubtedly experimental and over-elaborate, there are moments where grace and
boldness convene, exemplified by the
Garden Lobby
: an airy, bright meeting place in the heart
of the campus with a fascinating roof of glass panels forming the shape of an upturned boat.
displays have included a fascinating collection of anatomical investigative drawings by
Leonardo da Vinci from 1510 when he carried out a series of human autopsies.
The Scottish Parliament
Horse Wynd • Tues-Thurs 9am-6.30pm, Fri, Sat & Mon 10am-5pm • Free guided tours (1hr); booking is recommended (access is limited
to lobby and debating chamber if unguided) •
T
0131 348 5200,
W
scottish.parliament.uk
For all its grandeur, Holyrood Palace is in danger of being upstaged by the striking
buildings that make up the new
Scottish Parliament
.
he most controversial public
building to be erected in Scotland since World War II, it houses the country's directly
elected assembly, which was reintroduced into the British political scene in 1999
- Scotland's parliament was abolished in 1707, when it joined the English assembly at
Westminster as part of the Union of the two nations.
here's free access into the building's
entrance lobby
, where you'll find a small
exhibition providing some historical, political and architectural background. If
Parliament is in session, it's normally possible to watch proceedings in the
debating
chamber
from the public gallery, though you have to get a pass from the front desk in
the lobby. To see the rest of the interior properly you'll need to join one of the regular
guided tours
, highly recommended to better appreciate the quality, detailed features
and unique vision of the building's design. Special tours dedicated to the architecture
of the building and its collection of contemporary Scottish art also take place, but
much less frequently - check the website for details.
Our Dynamic Earth
112 Holyrood Rd • March-June, Sept & Oct daily 10am-5.30pm; July & Aug daily 10am-6pm; Nov-Feb Wed-Sun 10am-5.30pm; last
entry 1hr 30min before closing • £11.50 •
T
0131 550 7800,
W
dynamicearth.co.uk
Beneath a pincushion of white metal struts that make it look like a miniature version of
London's Millennium Dome,
Our Dynamic Earth
is a hi-tech attraction based on the
wonders of the natural world and aimed at families with kids between 5 and 15.
Although James Hutton, the Edinburgh-born “Father of Geology”, lived nearby in the
eighteenth century, there are few specific links to Edinburgh or Scotland. Galleries
cover the formation of the earth and continents with crashing sound effects and a
