The Scottish Parliament building.

[mairead]

Can I just ask those who have visited Scotland to give me their HONEST opinion of the new Scottish Parliament Building.
My own opinion is that it is an eyesore. To have built that monstrousity next to Holyrood is just unbelievable.

Opinions please.

[Mike]

Mairead, I thought it was absolutely horrid. It would have been so easy to duplicate the existing architecture into the new structure. What a miserable failure!

I suppose it was meant to portray a modern Scotland, but the building materials look as if they came from a scrap heap.


This is completely out of focus (it was pishing doon when I took it), but were the pipes in front of the windows necessary? If they were, was it necessary they be all bent and painted that horrific color?


If they were going to use such an ugly building plan, why did they feel the need to use several ugly building plans and not just stick with the one? Look at this absolute mess.


Are those roller coaster rails atop the building?!?


I was afraid to ask what those protuberances were below the windows.

And the raw concrete finish with the minimal lighting, inside the building, was not attractive, either. We were there when the Declaration of Arbroath, the Lubeck Letter and the Ayr Manuscript were on display. Thankfully, the displa cases were well-lit!

[Maitland]

I can understand why the building was built in this fashion but don't have to agree with it. It was built in a European Style, to move away from the architecture of the old establishment.

The debating chamber (One of the better looking parts of the building) was designed for open debate, to get away from the confrontational politics of the Westminster Chamber.

I have been to meetings at the heart of this building and it just didn't inspire me one little bit. The question that was always on my lips was "when is it finished" On one ocassion there were standard lamps in the public entrance and when I asked why they were there was told that the original lighting in this particular area was poor and inadequate for the purposes they were designed for.

As you head towards the lifts and the meeting rooms you will see concrete on the ceiling, this concrete in places differs in colour and looks unfinished, utter nonsense not just for a new building but a building that cost so much.

I remember visiting the building on a tour halfway through construction. As I entered the public area I looked up and noticed the ceiling. To me it looked as if once finished it would be very impressive, at that particular juncture of construction it was bear concrete with Saltires carved into the ceiling.

I asked the manager of the project when it would be finished and to my amazement she told me it was, I was flabbergasted, "Your kidding" I asked.

Mike Wrote:

I was afraid to ask what those protuberances were below the windows

Ah yes those. These are obviously the Offices (I was hoping to have one of these at one point) The proturbences are the outside of a seating area (for one). They are designed so that the MSP can contemplate whilst sitting here, well this is what I was told whilst visiting.

Anyway I have very little time for this building, it may, in time, grow on the people of Scotland but I personally don't believe it represents Scotland and does not meet the historical surroundings of the capital. (which should be Glasgow by the way )

M...

[Knockdow]

Why not just do a concrete tilt-up box? that is plain but this design is.... ummm err, wierd. This modernistic design will not age well, I think a more traditional construction style would have been better. Trying to blend it in with older building might have been very costly and not matched well.

I will see it in person this summer, my first 2 trips to Scotland, we did not make it east.

[Maitland]

Mairead Wrote:

Can I just ask those who have visited Scotland

OOPS, sorry Mairead. I should have left that question for others, I live here. Hope I haven't influenced the debate too much !!

M...

[MacPatrick]

I love concrete and building with concrete, but that building, while it may be a good display of concrete craftsmanship and an architect's ingenuity, is just not a very good looking building and does not appeal to the eye of the average person.

It appears to be a very good example of an architect who designed a monument to himself, in an effort to satisfy his ego, while wasting his client's good money. In this case the taxpayer's money.

There appears to be a rather large crack near the top of the third picture. Is that a structural defect or is it an architectural element of the building's design?

[MiLadyCeilidh]

Haven't been to Scotland, but the third photo reminds me of a run down .. inter city ... building ready for demolition. Sorry ...

[Maitland]

Jim L Wrote:

There appears to be a rather large crack near the top of the third picture. Is that a structural defect or is it an architectural element of the building's design?

Jim, that is a part of the building. There is a design there and that crack you mentioned is the edge of that design.

M...

[mairead]

Maitland.
Pleased you made your comment and glad you share my opinion.

[wulfie007]

Hi
I'm new here! I have not visited Scotland yet, but one of our cable stations in Canada runs a show that shows parliamentary debate from around the world. Sunday mornings is First Ministers Questions from Scotland. I have watched for the last few weeks, and what really caught my eye was the MSP seats and desks look like they come from IKEA. Not that there is anything wrong with Ikea but...
Sara