Limited public access to the building


building image © Keith Hunter from RMJM

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

Architect : Enric Miralles - EMBT/RMJM
Location : east end of Royal Mile, Old Town, Edinburgh, Scotland
Date built : 2004
Key award : Stirling Prize + Andrew Doolan Award for Architecture, 2005
Style: contemporary architecture, mixing Catalan + local influences


MSP Foyer View © Adrian Welch

Edinburgh Architecture Walking Tours - 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 legacy of late architect Enric Miralles - check with the Scottish Parliament: Contact on 0131 348 5200 or 0800 092 7600
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


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 architect 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), 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
Architect 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 as principal architect 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 Building - 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 architecture reported include upturned boats at Holy Island, flower paintings & Glasgow School of Art by architect 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

Architect Louis Kahn was a strong influence on architect Enric Miralles, the Kimbell Museum building’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

Building Opening
The First Debate was on 7 Sep 2004
Official Opening of the building 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:

Former Temporary Home at the Mound, image © Adrian Welch

Architecture Book by Enric Miralles
'Works and Projects, 1975-1995'
author Enric Miralles, architect

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 5200


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

Scottish Architecture : best buildings in Scotland of the last three decades

Scottish Parliament : Best Building in Scotland winner in 2005

Scottish Parliament Building : Reviews


Holyrood Debating Chamber ; MSP Foyer 'leaf'


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 with Queensberry House on right

New Scottish Parliament Building - Book: Enric Miralles Architect


Debating Chamber - nodes : 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 in Scotland + Architecture Grand Prix

Scottish Housing

Scottish Parliament Building : 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. Parliament images are frequently requested - please right click on the photographs you desire and mail us with the titles. We will try to contact the relevant people / photographer

Old Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh Old Town - historic architecture

Jenners

Scottish Parliament Award : Civic Trust Awards 2006 Scotland winner

Edinburgh : back to index

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

Scottish Parliament Building : page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt