Holyrood Parliament

At the top of the Royal Mile is ancient, imposing and grand, take-no-prisoners Edinburgh Castle and at the bottom, and the other end of the scale entirely is Holyrood, seat of Scotland’s Parliament. Its steel, glass and concrete couldn’t be more different on the outside, but on the inside it’s got a more natural feel with lots of local timber, mostly oak, and granite, and a colour scheme that blends with it’s bare mountainous backdrop.

It’s certainly innovative. To give you an idea of its shape it’s based on the flowers of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, but each ‘petal’ looks something like an upturned boat, arranged in a random pattern over raised and lowered ground. From the front it looks something like a part finished fort, huge oak beams spiking out of a rounded, asymmetric shape – you’ll have to look at the images to draw your own conclusions, but unusual would be an understatement. Unusual enough to win several important architectural awards, but it’s still not particularly popular with the locals.

You can go in and take a tour around it, including visiting one of the chambers of the house, which look like school lecture theatres made all of pale amber timber.

Written by  Kat Mackintosh.

Other expert and press reviews

Comments, reviews and questions by other travellers

There are no posts. Why not be the first to have your say?

Post a comment, review or question

I want to

Make a comment Write a review Ask a question

Question

My comment - optional

Rating - how would you rate this place or experience?

Don't goMaybe worth a visitWorth a visitYou must go!World wonder!