Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
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I finally visited the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh this week. There’s been so much controversy and negativity about the building. The building won the 2005 Stirling Prize for Architecture.
I had mixed feelings about the building, I like the exterior, apart from the strange twisted cane effects around the windows and extended from the front elevation.
Front of Scottish Parliament building
I found the lobby to be quite dismal and dark but liked the debating chamber with its combination of wooden beams and glass in the ceiling.
Debating chamber, Scottish Parliament
I wasn’t able to go on the one hour guided tour, although they normally run on Mondays. they were preparations for some event and tours had been cancelled. The tour costs £5 for adults and £3 for concessions. It’s stressed that this charge is made to cover the cost of professional tour guides. Personally I don’t think that here should be a charge for Scottish residents to do the tour but I know it would be complicated to administer this.
I thought that the bust of the late John Smith, leader of the Labour Party from 1992 until his death in 1994, was very lifelike. The sculpture, which sits by the lift at the debating chamber, is by Eduardo Paolozzi and is on loan to the Scottish Parliament.
John Smith sculpture by Eduardo Paolozzi
Have you visited the Scottish Parliament, what did you make of it?
