Scottish Parliament Building, Edinburgh
The Scottish Parliament Building, located at Holyrood in Edinburgh, is a notable feature within the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the city's center. This building has been a subject of debate since its inception, facing criticism over its location, architectural design, and construction decisions from politicians, the media, and Scottish citizens. Construction began in June 1999, with an initial plan to open in 2001, but it officially opened much later, on October 9, 2004, with a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II.
The Parliament complex, spanning 1.6 hectares at the base of Arthur鈥檚 Seat on Holyrood Road, was designed by the late Spanish architect Enric Miralles. He aimed to blend the Scottish environment, culture, and the essence of Edinburgh in the design, using features like leaf-shaped skylights in the Garden Lobby and large windows offering views of Holyrood Park. The building predominantly uses Scottish materials like local stone and oak for walls and floors, along with sycamore furnishings.
Public opinion about the Parliament Building is divided; it's a structure you either admire or dislike. A visit, preferably through a guided tour which allows access to otherwise restricted areas, is recommended to form your own opinion. The surrounding gardens, which are open to the public, feature an array of wildflowers, shrubs, trees, a water pool, lawns, and pathways.
Despite mixed reactions from the public and initial criticisms, the Parliament Building has been acknowledged positively in architectural circles, winning several accolades including the 2005 Stirling Prize. Landscape architect Charles Jencks lauded it as an outstanding example of quality and craftsmanship in British architecture over the past century.
The Parliament complex, spanning 1.6 hectares at the base of Arthur鈥檚 Seat on Holyrood Road, was designed by the late Spanish architect Enric Miralles. He aimed to blend the Scottish environment, culture, and the essence of Edinburgh in the design, using features like leaf-shaped skylights in the Garden Lobby and large windows offering views of Holyrood Park. The building predominantly uses Scottish materials like local stone and oak for walls and floors, along with sycamore furnishings.
Public opinion about the Parliament Building is divided; it's a structure you either admire or dislike. A visit, preferably through a guided tour which allows access to otherwise restricted areas, is recommended to form your own opinion. The surrounding gardens, which are open to the public, feature an array of wildflowers, shrubs, trees, a water pool, lawns, and pathways.
Despite mixed reactions from the public and initial criticisms, the Parliament Building has been acknowledged positively in architectural circles, winning several accolades including the 2005 Stirling Prize. Landscape architect Charles Jencks lauded it as an outstanding example of quality and craftsmanship in British architecture over the past century.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Edinburgh. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Scottish Parliament Building on Map
Sight Name: Scottish Parliament Building
Sight Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (See walking tours in Edinburgh)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (See walking tours in Edinburgh)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Edinburgh, Scotland
Create Your Own Walk in Edinburgh
Creating your own self-guided walk in Edinburgh is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Harry Potter Trail
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Edinburgh Introduction Walking Tour
Comfortably yet tightly packed on the hilly terrain, Edinburgh 鈥� the Scottish capital since at least the 15th century, and the seat of the Scottish Parliament since 1999 鈥� is a picturesque city renowned for its unique architecture of the medieval Old Town and elegant Georgian New Town, currently both listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The earliest known human habitation in the area dates... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
New Town Walking Tour
Rightly regarded as the historic masterpiece of city planning, the New Town of Edinburgh has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. The area forms a significant part of the Scottish capital and is known for its elegant Georgian architecture, abundant shopping opportunities, and many other delights firmly associated with this city.
One of the prominent landmarks in the New Town is... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
One of the prominent landmarks in the New Town is... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Royal Mile Walking Tour
The Royal Mile, a steep thoroughfare in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town, is one of the city's busiest tourist destinations. It runs down a slope, from the famed Edinburgh Castle to Holyroodhouse Palace and the ruined Holyrood Abbey, for almost exactly a mile and thus got its name, coined in 1920. The succession of streets forming the Royal Mile is lined with numerous shops, pubs,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Literary Landmarks Tour
For centuries, Edinburgh has been home to numerous writers. The likes of Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson, and JK Rowling, just to name a few, have given pride to this city. Fortunately, the tradition doesn't seem to die out any time soon, as Edinburgh keeps producing more and more authors and literary heroes in whose footsteps people still wish to tread.
Naturally, there is a wealth... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Naturally, there is a wealth... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Old Town Walking Tour
The historical center of Edinburgh, popularly known as the Old Town, is indeed the oldest part of the Scottish capital. Most of the buildings here, made of stone and characterized by numerous tall windows, have been around since the Middle Ages and are covered with soot, left over from the days long gone, when houses were heated with hard-coal and wood. Hence the prevailing gray color in the area.... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
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