s it pnssible In judge Sentland's new parliament simply as a building'.’ ()n nne level it is clearly emerging as nne nl‘ the mnst remarkable pieces nl new architecture in Britain linr 3“ years. It is a delicately w rnught. rnmantic pnem tn the expressive qualities nl architecture and the tactile qualities of wood and stnne. ()n annther. it is a scandalnus case nl the grnss mismanagement nt' public mnney. A prnject lirst budgeted at £50m cnttld nnw cost as much as £45flm.
llet‘nre its cnmpletinn. linric Miralles‘ evncative drawings and c‘ttllitgcs were littl'tl [0 read: they seemed in slttm an erttptinn (ll. nrganic lt)l'lll\ truth the landscape that didn‘t quite add tip In a building. ()nly nnw is it pnssible In see what he had in mind and the reality is a pnwerlul cnnlirmatinn nl' his talent. .\liralles was an architect nl what might be called the nld—l‘ashinned kind: his wnrk was full nl' symbnlic and representatiiinal qualities. When he died at 45. he was nn the edge nl becnming a mainr figure. btit withnut having yet
cnmpleted the lidinburgh parliament nr the schnnl nt
architecture in Venice that wnuld demnnstrate that he nt‘l'ered much mnre than prnmise. .\'nw the parliament stands as a mnnument In what might have been.
()ne witness at the liraser inquiry recnllected linric .\liralles talking tn l)nnald l)ewar. Andy .\lc.\lillan. former head nl the .\lackintnsh Schnnl nl Architecture and a metnber nl the cnfttpelitintt jury. said: "lid illustrate his scheme. he prnduced snme leaves and stems which he laid nn a plan In shnw tis hnw the building wnuld sit in the (‘annngate. but also sit in what he described as the land nl Sentland.‘ It was the gesture that wnn Miralles the cnmmissinn. He was much tnn smart l'ni‘ the nbvinus metaphnrs. In particular he steered well
away than that l'eeble idea abnut the literal representatinn nl'
demncracy thrnugh transparency. Instead .\liral|es' big idea was In make nnt a building. but a landscape. "l'he parliament shnuld be able tn reflect the land which it represents.‘ he wrnte. "l'he land itself will be a material. a physical building material. We have worked with the intuitinn that individual identificatinn with land carries cnllective sentimentsf
Nnbndy asked Miralles In use a natinnal style in lidinburgh. llis design is clearly a highly personal nne. llis
nriginal submissinn tnuchingly shnwed as his pnint nl~
departure a phntngraph nt' twn Itpturned turf-cnvered bnats. turned intn makeshift shelters that he had l'nund nn a beach while nn a student trip In Britain. He was suggesting that he wanted tn bttild a parliament that felt like a natural part nl‘ the site. rather than an impnsitinn nn it. He believed it was pnssible tn create a sense (if a cnnceptual distance between the Palace nl’ llnly'rnnd. which is ‘nn the land'. as he put it. and
the parliatnent which is ‘in the land'.
Walk arnund the l‘nnt til the Rnyal Mile. past the gates nl' llnlyt'nnd Palace. and tip tnvvard Salisbury (‘rags and there. unwinding in front nt yntt. .\liralles' parliament has an elusive sense nl settled ease. It belnngs In its setting. It is an idea that has grnwn resnnances that make it inevitably Sentland's parliament. .-\ parliament demands a enmplex cnmbinatinn nl tises that even a museum dnes tint have. There is the debating chamber itself. the cafes and snuvenir shnp. 'l‘here are the backstairs aspects — the briefing rnnms. the lnbbies. the cnrridnrs. and the cnmmittee rnnms — that all play their part in creating a pnlitical theatre that can make real the ambitinns nl' thnse whn Use it.
Miralles was nnt prepared In tnlerate B» the bland nr the annnymnus. l-‘nr him wnrk meant thinking. and enntemplatinn.
A landmark is unveiled (clockwise from left): industrial detailing on rear facade of MSPs’ block; petal-shaped skylights punctuate the interior of the Garden Foyer; MSP offices; the Press tower
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THE INSPIRATION
Raeburn’s Skater
On a tea COSy. he looks comical: a Puritan having fun despite himself Downstairs in the National Gallem Sir Henry Raeburn's portrait of a skating Presbyterian minister reveals itself to be more generous. The famous Scottish portraitist captures his friend in a pose that is both purposeful and pOised. an image of contemplation and action. According to preSiding officer George Reid. the T-shaped slabs of granite on the Side of the parliament refer to the Reverend's Wlfllr‘y act of athleticism. The shape is more apparent if you look at the window recesses in the MSP block from Within.
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