Parliamentary News Release
054/2004
24 September 2004
CHANGING THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE
The public face of the new Scottish Parliament is coming together as more of the landscaping work was unveiled this week around the main public entrance of the Parliament. Work is proceeding apace on the rest of the landscaping ahead of the official opening by Her Majesty The Queen on Saturday 9 October.
Including one of three planned water features, the elements completed this week run around the impressive façade of the main entrance at Horse Wynd.
Senior Project Manager Graham Rennie said it was down to good teamwork that this section of the project was completed in time for the start of business.
He said:
“The complexity of the cladding at the front of the building resulted in a later than scheduled start to the landscaping work. But good teamwork and endeavour brought us back on programme.
“We're now concentrating on the ‘soft' landscaping of the canopies and down to Queen's Drive and are on schedule to have the bulk of the work completed in time for the official opening ceremony on October 9.
“The only work to be done following that will be the planting of trees and shrubs when the planting season arrives in November.”
Following the Parliament building opening for business, the focus has now shifted outdoors.
Responsibility for masterminding the transformation of these areas rests with Kenny Fraser, a 36-year old landscape architect with leading firm RMJM. Kenny heads up a team of four charged with ensuring that the Parliament truly is “a building growing out of the land”, an important element from the earliest drafts of Enric Miralles' design.
Kenny Fraser said:
“It's fair to say, unfortunately, that with many architectural projects, landscaping is only given full consideration after the building has been completed. In the case of the Scottish Parliament, the relationship between the building itself and the surrounding area has been a key consideration from the very beginning.”
Among the skills which Kenny and his team have brought to the task facing them has been the ability to introduce extensive planting proposals to the environment – an essential element when one considers that there are more than 3500 pieces of pre-cast concrete slotted together throughout the area surrounding the building.
One of Kenny's main aims has been to soften this concrete jigsaw by introducing elements such as plants, flowers, turf and water features. A prime example is the team's use of bamboo around the building, echoing the bay windows of the MSPs' offices, many of which have oak lattices with a bamboo design.
The team's determination to ensure that the Parliament fits seamlessly into the local environment can be seen from the fact that the surrounding walkways have been tied into the pattern of the Old Town using Caithness stone in the pavements while silver-grey setts have been used to create a traditional effect.
Planting arrangements in the Members' gardens, meanwhile, have been laid out in accordance with an early sketch by Enric Miralles which was inspired by the work of the Swiss expressionist painter Paul Klee.
To appreciate fully the layout of the Parliament complex, it is best viewed from above, and consequently many of the building's roofs have been turfed to ensure that they fit into the surrounding landscape as seamlessly as possible. The innovative layout of the building means that it is possible to be walking through a beautiful garden area without realising that it is a roof garden.
Another requirement has been to create a special garden for the residents of Reid's Close, adjacent to the Parliament building, to compensate for the fact that their view of Calton Hill has been impeded by the new building.
In the same way that the Parliament is intended to be accessible to the general public, Kenny Fraser's team has been keen to ensure that the people of Scotland are able to make their own contribution to the landscaped areas.
Retired Glasgow surgeon Alastair Glen contacted the Presiding Officer with an offer of a cutting from the ancient Wallace Yew tree in Elderslie, Renfrewshire, which is said to mark the birthplace of William Wallace. The sapling, which is now three metres tall, will find a new home at the Parliament.
More green-fingered members of the public are the children from a Glasgow primary school who have grown saplings from the seeds of pure Caledonian pine trees, which once covered most of the country. Some of the saplings will take pride of place in the Parliament's landscaping.
Kenny Fraser said:
“The gardens will be just as eye-catching as the Parliament building itself and will add an appropriate finishing-touch to the project. And, thanks to the donations we have received, they'll contain a little bit of Scottish history as well.”
For further information, contact:
James Mackenzie
Tel: 0131 348 5605
(RNID TalkType calls welcome)
email: james.mackenzie@scottish.parliament.uk
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