Parliament
Apr. 9th, 2006 07:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
leynosThe weather being pleasant today, I went on a wee walk. In 2004, I worked for two months for RMJM, the practice that designed part of the Scottish Parliament building and oversaw its construction. This being the case, it struck me as a bit weird that I had yet to actually see said edifice in person, so I chose that as my destination.
I arrived too late to get inside, but I got a good view of the exterior. I've heard a lot said either way about the building, and now is the time to make my own mind up. Well, I wouldn't go as far as to call it ugly, but I couldn't in all honesty call it beautiful either. On the other hand, I would be happy to call it striking. My first impression, upon seeing the MSPs' offices from Holyrood Road was almost awe.
The liberal use of wooden canes in decorating windows is something that feels very individual, and the amount of disjoint curved surfaces used in the design make it very memorable whilst at the same time difficult to visualize in its entirety. On the other hand, I'm not convinced that this is the national symbol that Scotland needs. I could easily imagine it becoming a piece of iconic architecture in years to come, but it doesn't feel like something of the city it inhabits.
It's been said that the Parliament is to last a thousand years. I'm curious how well it will indeed stand up to this test, but it pleases me to hear of people thinking this far ahead. There is an atmosphere of short-termism in the modern buildings of glass and steel that leaves me wondering why people don't build for the ages in the way they did even just seventy years ago.
As a public space however, I feel that the Parliament gardens are a success. The roller bladers grinding on the sculptures outside probably agree with me. I was happy to sit for a good half hour at the foot of Arthurs Seat, admiring the view of the complex flanked by the Dynamic Earth Dome and Holyrood Palace, and overlooked by the Folly on Calton Hill.
On the way back home, I popped into the Bongo Club, where a Sunday social afternoon has been running for as long as I have been clubbing. This is also something I have strangely never quite got around to visiting. I guess I didn't quite know what to expect. Another opportunity to relax is what it presented. There's a nice little cafe upstairs in the Bongo Club, and this is where the music is in the afternoon. So I got to enjoy afternoon tea and cakes over a little light reading, whilst the DJ played some quality chilled reggae and hip hop. (Well, okay, rum and cakes, but who's counting.)
Later tonight, I'm going to head along to Neon. Staying 'til three will be daft, but I'll probably do it anyway.
I arrived too late to get inside, but I got a good view of the exterior. I've heard a lot said either way about the building, and now is the time to make my own mind up. Well, I wouldn't go as far as to call it ugly, but I couldn't in all honesty call it beautiful either. On the other hand, I would be happy to call it striking. My first impression, upon seeing the MSPs' offices from Holyrood Road was almost awe.
The liberal use of wooden canes in decorating windows is something that feels very individual, and the amount of disjoint curved surfaces used in the design make it very memorable whilst at the same time difficult to visualize in its entirety. On the other hand, I'm not convinced that this is the national symbol that Scotland needs. I could easily imagine it becoming a piece of iconic architecture in years to come, but it doesn't feel like something of the city it inhabits.
It's been said that the Parliament is to last a thousand years. I'm curious how well it will indeed stand up to this test, but it pleases me to hear of people thinking this far ahead. There is an atmosphere of short-termism in the modern buildings of glass and steel that leaves me wondering why people don't build for the ages in the way they did even just seventy years ago.
As a public space however, I feel that the Parliament gardens are a success. The roller bladers grinding on the sculptures outside probably agree with me. I was happy to sit for a good half hour at the foot of Arthurs Seat, admiring the view of the complex flanked by the Dynamic Earth Dome and Holyrood Palace, and overlooked by the Folly on Calton Hill.
On the way back home, I popped into the Bongo Club, where a Sunday social afternoon has been running for as long as I have been clubbing. This is also something I have strangely never quite got around to visiting. I guess I didn't quite know what to expect. Another opportunity to relax is what it presented. There's a nice little cafe upstairs in the Bongo Club, and this is where the music is in the afternoon. So I got to enjoy afternoon tea and cakes over a little light reading, whilst the DJ played some quality chilled reggae and hip hop. (Well, okay, rum and cakes, but who's counting.)
Later tonight, I'm going to head along to Neon. Staying 'til three will be daft, but I'll probably do it anyway.
