Scottish Parliament Building

Spagbag

I made a trip to the Edinburgh Fringe festival at the end of August, to get my annual fix of theatre and comedy. When I wasn’t rushing from one show to the next, I managed to sneak my first peak at the Scottish Parliament building http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/holyrood/index.htm, which has had its fair share of controversy since it was completed (over time and over budget).

This block houses the members of parliament's offices. I'm not sure what the sticks are about, but I liked the window shapes.


This is a view from the ornamental ponds at the front entrance. The lady's dog was having a fun time splashing about.


This is the main block of the building. Just out of shot was some newly erected scaffolding. I guess they are having some teething troubles.


I wasn't sure about it at first, but it's starting to grow on me.

System

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/holyrood/faq/answers/ds010.htm

"What are the purposes of the wooden poles placed over some of the Scottish Parliament buildings’ windows?

The lattice work on a number of the windows is an architectural feature and is not representative of anything specific or symbolic. Although they are often referred to as bamboo, the poles were manufactured from solid oak and the design appears in many parts of the cladding of the building, e.g. on some of the windows on the MSP building; on windows at the public entrance; in concrete form on some of the walls around the perimeter of the complex, and of course in horizontal form on the pergola over the public entrance."

saurora

No doubt this building has created a stir of controversy. It is so very untraditional for a parliament building. House it as an art gallery or a museum and everyone would probably be very "enthused". It's very different...but it kind of grows on you!!! I actually like the "sticks". I'd love to photograph it with a wide angle! What lens did you use?

JamieC

What an absolutely remarkeable building! Thanks for sharing!

Jamie

Spagbag

gefillmore wrote:

The lattice work on a number of the windows is an architectural feature and is not representative of anything specific or symbolic."

OK, so next time I post an info link, maybe I should read the full contents first.

Saurora, I just used a point and shoot. We had luggage restrictions on our internal flights at the time, so I wasn't risking putting my SLR in the hold.

System

re link-

no biggie-

just curious about the poles-

have a hard time understanding how they came up with that when there was no reason-

I was thinking some kind of great historical significance-

Bodwick

gefillmore wrote:

re link-

no biggie-

just curious about the poles-

have a hard time understanding how they came up with that when there was no reason-

I was thinking some kind of great historical significance-

At a cost of £431m I'm surprised the poles are just made of wood and not solid gold.


Bod.

fire1035

Ugliest building I've ever seen. It appears to me to have nothing to do with Scottish culture. What a shame as the Scots have contributed so much to the world when you really think about it.

Bodwick

fire1035 wrote:

Ugliest building I've ever seen. It appears to me to have nothing to do with Scottish culture. What a shame as the Scots have contributed so much to the world when you really think about it.

I'm with you on this.

I remember reading about those extended window pod's shown in the first picture. They are window seats for the 'hard working' to sit in and rest...

I think it should have been built at Bannock Burn in the shape of a big kilted highlander waving his sporan to the south.

Bod..