Limited public access to the building


building image © Keith Hunter from RMJM

Scottish Parliament Building - Tours + Background on dates / opening times

Location : east end of Royal Mile, Old Town, Edinburgh
Opened: 2004
Key award : Stirling Prize + Andrew Doolan Award for Architecture, 2005


MSP Foyer View © Adrian Welch

Edinburgh Walking Tours - these can include a visit to the building & description of the exterior: Contact Isabelle Lomholt on 01620 825722 / 07952 149814


images © Keith Hunter from RMJM

Scottish Parliament Architecture - Tours:
Visit and try to understand the Enric Miralles legacy - check with the Scottish Parliament: Contact on 0131 348 5000 or 0845 278 1999
Debating Chamber access depends on parliamentary business

Spanish Architect - Information & Books:
Scottish Parliament Architect - Enric Miralles

Scottish Parliament Building Tours: scroll towards base of page for details


Scottish Parliament Building: MSP Block south-west prow © Adrian Welch

Scottish Parliament - Photos




photograph © Jason Baxter

New Scottish Parliament - Devolution
Architecture Competition announced by Scottish Office in 1998: 12 teams shortlisted, then narrowed down to 5 groups of Scottish + foreign architect teams.
Enric Miralles + RMJM Architects won and by 1999 the Assembly Building was on site in Holyrood.


Debating Chamber with MSP Desks, Well looking south

Outline
Controversial Issues such as choice of site, timing, architect (non-scottish), followed by escalating costs (from an unrealistic benchmark), have left the design of the Scottish Parliament Building often neglected in the Press. Sir David Steel, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament claimed "This building is the most important to be built in Scotland for 300 years": although this no doubt refers back to the Act of Union in 1707, the point has architectural validity too.

Tragedy
Enric Miralles died in 2000 (aged 45) a few months after construction on the Scottish Parliament Building commenced.

Donald Dewar also died in 2000: he was Secretary of State for Scotland, and then First Minister in the Scottish Parliament, selected the Holyrood site and also Enric Miralles for the project.

Buildings
The New Scottish Parliament building is divided as follows:-


site plan

MSP Building - East of site
Queensberry House - North of site, refurbishment
Assembly Buildings - East of site

The Scottish Parliament Assembly Buildings:-

Canongate - the cantilevered building onto the Royal Mile
MSP Foyer (Garden Lobby) - between the latter, the Towers & Queensberry House
Towers - four buildings, contain Committee rooms, offices, etc.
Debating Chamber - incl. exhibition spaces, cafeteria, etc.
Press Tower - just north of latter, housing studios


photograph from the east © Adrian Welch

Design Influences
Influences for the Scottish Parliament building reported include upturned boats at Holy Island, flower paintings & Glasgow School of Art by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Architect influences are noted by Gillespie as Aalto, Kahn, Pietila, Coderch, Lapena & Torres, Viaplana & Pinon.


MSP Foyer: image by Keith Hunter Aug 2004 from EMBT/RMJM

Louis Kahn was a strong influence on architect Enric Miralles, the Kimbell Museum’s vaults specifically for the three tapering vaults of the Debating Chamber ground floor.

Scottish Parliament influence - Lindisfarne boat.....just over the border into England

Holy Island Boat - influence: photo © Adrian Welch 2006

Opening
The First Debate was on 7 Sep 2004. Official Opening by HM Queen took place 9 Oct 2004

Relevant Links
Scottish Parliament Architecture : Tours

Scottish Parliament Building : Competition Background

Scottish Parliament Context - Edinburgh Old Town

Scottish Parliament Competition : Leith Proposal

Forrmer Scottish Parliament - New College, Old Town, Edinburgh:

Scottish Parliament Building: Temporary Home at the Mound, image © Adrian Welch

Scottish Parliament Building Book
'Works and Projects, 1975-1995'
author Enric Miralles

edited by Juanjo Lahuerta
edited by Benedetta Tagliabue Miralles
272 pp 400 illustrations, 100 in color
£27.50
Enric Miralles Architecture

The Scottish Parliament Building can be viewed from the Canongate (Royal Mile), Horse Guards and Holyrood Road.

Edinburgh Architecture Tours can include a visit around the building's exterior
info@edinburgharchitecture.co.uk / 01620 825722 for details

Scottish Parliament Architecture : Tour inside the building 0131 348 5000


photo © Adrian Welch

Scottish Architecture : best Scottish Buildings of the last three decades

Scottish Parliament : Best Building in Scotland winner in 2005

Scottish Parliament Building : Reviews


Holyrood Debating Chamber; Scottish Parliament: MSP Foyer 'leaf'


The Scottish Parliament: Tower 2; L4 Towers - Roofs

Scottish Parliament Guided Tours: some parts of the building such as under the Debating Chamber - Foyer, Shop, Cafeteria - are accessible for free without booking: check with the Scottish Parliament for dates & opening times


MSP Block south facade, MSP east stair to right, picture © Adrian Welch


Scottish Parliament Building: MSP Block with Queensberry House on right

New Scottish Parliament Building - Book: Enric Miralles Architect


Scottish Parliament Building image by Keith Hunter late Aug 2004 from EMBT/RMJM



Archived images of the Scottish Parliament available upon request to info@edinburgharchitecture.co.uk

Edinburgh : back to index

Scottish Parliament : Scottish Design Awards 2005 - Best Publicly Funded
Building + Architecture Grand Prix

Scottish Housing

Scottish Parliament : Edinburgh Architectural Association Centenary Medal

Other Building designed by RMJM Architects in Edinburgh:
Scottish Executive Building, Leith

Scottish Parliament Architects - RMJM Scotland

Scottish Parliament photos without direct credits were all approved by RMJM/Scottish Parliament in 2004 for use on the website. Scottish Parliament images are frequently requested - please right click on the images you desire and mail us with the titles. We will try and contact the relevant people / photographer

Old Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh Old Town

Jenners

RBS Gogarburn

Scottish Parliament award : Civic Trust Awards 2006 Scotland winner

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Comments / photos for the Scottish Parliament Architecture page welcome:
info@e-architect.co.uk

Scottish Parliament Building : page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt