Scottish Parliament Wins Prize

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2005-10-15 05:59pm

BBC News wrote: Top prize for Parliament building

The Scottish Parliament building, which opened three years late and was massively over budget, has won the Stirling Prize for architecture.

It beat five other contenders including a library and new factories built for BMW and the McLaren Formula One team.

The prize honours the building which has made the biggest contribution to British architecture in the past year.

Last year the £20,000 award was won by the London's "Gherkin", which was designed by Lord Foster.

'Remarkable statement'

Foster and Partners had hoped to win the prize for the second year running for their design for the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey.

The judges described the building, which houses laboratories, testing facilities and electronic workshops in a 50-acre site,as "breathtaking".

But they chose the "remarkable architectural statement" of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh instead.

The building, designed by EMBT/RMJM Ltd, caused controversy by opening three years late and being 10 times over budget at £431m.

Its architect, the Spaniard Enric Miralles, died in July 2000, but his widow Benedetta Tagliabue attended the awards at the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

The judges said the building "manifests itself as an attempt at an organic transition between the city and the drama of the Scottish countryside surrounding it" - an effect helped by its landscaping.

"The ability of both the design and construction teams to realise a building of this complexity is truly remarkable," they said.

The Scottish Parliament's Presiding Officer George Reid, speaking after the event, said the award honoured all those involved in the creation of the Parliament.

"The judges have decided that Holyrood is not just a working legislature but a work of art constructed on a world-heritage site where the history and land of Scotland fuse together," he said.

Shortlisted buildings

The Parliament was one of six buildings shortlisted for the award which recognises the building which has made the greatest contribution to British architecture in the past year.

Other contenders included the £8m Jubilee Library in Brighton, which had been the joint favourite with McLaren's headquarters.

Designed by Bennetts Associates with Lomax Cassidy, it was said to be "a civic building of importance".

The judges described its glass façade as "imposing, dissolving at night to expose the powerful library interior".

The second car factory among the shortlist was the BMW Central Building in Leipzig, Germany, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.

The judges praised its "nice conceit of half-finished Beamers gliding above your head on elevated conveyor tracks, making their silent stately way between the body shop and the paint shop".

The Lewis Glucksman Gallery at University College, Cork, by O'Donnell + Tuomey was praised as "almost picturesque".

The sixth contender, the Fawood Children's Centre in Harlesden, north-west London, was designed by Alsop Design Ltd.

It was called a "fine example of the beneficial effects of good architecture".

Previous winners include the Gateshead Millennium Bridge and a multi-coloured London dance centre.

The prize is named after the architect Sir James Stirling, who died in 1992.

It may have cost a few truckloads of taxpayers' money, taken many more years to build and brought embarassment on the SMPs to sit within it, but it sure sounds like it's good at something.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2005-10-15 06:11pm

Well it looks like there's some fundemental differences of opinion between myself and the Stirling Prize commission, because I think the building looks like shit.

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2005-10-15 06:17pm

HemlockGrey wrote:Well it looks like there's some fundemental differences of opinion between myself and the Stirling Prize commission, because I think the building looks like shit.

That's because you're an uncultured American who just doesn't understand modern art, architecture, and culture.

For the humor impaired, that's a joking comment. I think it looks like total ass myself. Was the architect on LSD?

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2005-10-15 06:35pm

It looks like a vagina ... I'm sold.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2005-10-15 10:06pm

I think it looks like something, that when it goes out of style, is gonna look heinous.

LordShaithis · Post by **LordShaithis** » 2005-10-15 10:22pm

By my calculations, if the building wins this award every year through the year 23,555 AD, the prize money will recoup the entire construction cost! Woohoo!

Ma Deuce · Post by **Ma Deuce** » 2005-10-15 10:59pm

Here is the whole building, if anyone's interested. I'm still going to get on the on the boat that isn't sold on the design: Godammit, government buildings are supposed to be imposing, a symbol not only of the power they represent (though admittadly that doesn't apply to the Scottish parliament

), but also of the bloated bureaucracies they house. Preferably, they should also have neo-classical or neo-gothic architecture.

Post by **weemadando** » 2005-10-16 08:21pm

So, where does Australia's "nuclear bunker" parliament house sit on your design scale then Deuce?

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2005-10-16 08:45pm

Absolutely no regard for the architectural history and tradition of Scotland, the Westminster system, or democracy, pointless shapes, heinous colors, guaranteed to be considered ugly as sin by the vast majority of the taxpayers who paid for it. Disgustingly typical of postwar architecture.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2005-10-16 08:47pm

I'd not mind the thing if it even tried to blend in with the skyline. Ugh.

Post by **weemadando** » 2005-10-16 09:20pm

The earth-covered bunker known as our houses of parliament.

Falkenhayn · Post by **Falkenhayn** » 2005-10-16 09:30pm

Hahahahah! Scottish Parliament looks like a Po-Mo Appartement complex! It also bears a more than passing resemblance to the dormitories of SUNY Binghamton. Good job Scotland.

Ma Deuce · Post by **Ma Deuce** » 2005-10-16 09:46pm

weemadando wrote:So, where does Australia's "nuclear bunker" parliament house sit on your design scale then Deuce?

Not bad, actually: The architecture of the facades is a little plain, but still have a nice neo-classical feel to them, and overall it's definately far, far better than that post-modern silliness of the new Scottish parliament house. I actually like the bunker-like look imparted by the grass slopes extended over the roof, though I must say that hollow-pyramid flagpole looks a little out of place. But anyway, some older government houses like Westminster Palace, the US Capitol, the Canadian Parliament building, and the Reichstag still get higher marks from me...

Post by **Edi** » 2005-10-17 01:23am

That's fucking ugly, that is. The Scottish Parliament house, not the Australian one, which I rather like.

What do you guys think of the Finnish House of Parliament?

Edi

brianeyci · Post by **brianeyci** » 2005-10-17 01:28am

Edi wrote:

Edi

That is what I think of when I think of Government buildings : solid, imposing, powerful and most importantly timeless. It looks like it could last a billion years.

Brian

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2005-10-17 01:47am

That's not a capitol mate, now this is a capitol building.

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2005-10-17 01:57am

Classical style buildings (like the Finnish and US capitol buildings) practically make you feel like a Senator when you just walk up the steps to enter them.
The Scottish Parliament building looks more like a cubist architect's idea of a prison than a legislature.

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2005-10-17 02:39am

I think the Swedish parlament building has you beat!

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2005-10-17 03:24am

It looks bloody awfull. Scotland has some excellent archetecture and this abortion was the best they could come up with?. In short, it will be well suited to its inhabitants

Post by **Gandalf** » 2005-10-17 03:32am

That Swedish building is bloody beautiful. Though it looks like something out of Civ.

Oberleutnant · Post by **Oberleutnant** » 2005-10-17 05:56am

I was going to say that don't judge the new Scottish Parliament house by its exterior, but having looked at photos of the interior, I have to say I'm unimpressed. How come they ended up using wood as the primary material? The design bears no whatsoever relation to the Scottish identity. If there's a connection, it's well hidden. Real shame since contemporary British architecture is probably the best in the world.

Interior photos

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2005-10-17 06:42am

It looks...special

And the Australian one gets bonus points for strangeness.

I, myself, like the Reichstag. Imposing, yet a certain elegance

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2005-10-17 06:50am

I like them all.

I rather like the Knesset

Front

Zed Snardbody · Post by **Zed Snardbody** » 2005-10-17 07:13am

Dahak wrote:It looks...special

And the Australian one gets bonus points for strangeness.

I, myself, like the Reichstag. Imposing, yet a certain elegance

Now that is a fine looking building, if a bit "busy" on the outside.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2005-10-17 07:18am

The nearest city to me (and England's newest one to have city status to boot) has a great municipal hall.