Architecture and Democracy

This book looks at the fascinating history of the architecture of democratic buildings, from the earliest Classical models of the Ancient World up to the newest parliaments being built today. Divided into two sections, the first section looks at the historical tradition of parliamentary architecture, from Classical Greece onwards, showing how the classical style came to exemplify the ideal form for democratic buildings well into the 19th century. During the 19th century, with the rise of nationalism, states began to search for more varied styles that reflected their particular national identity. The section ends with a look at the Modernist responses to this architectural challenge, as shown by Niemeyer's designs for Brasilia, Le Corbusier's for Chandigarh, Louis Kahn's for Dacca and, most recently, Norman Foster's renovation of the Reichstag in Berlin. The second section of the book focuses on current parliamentary buildings in the UK: the Welsh Assembly designed by Richard Rogers and in particular, the extraordinary Scottish Parliament designed by the Spanish architect Enric Miralles, which is currently under construction.;This project is covered in detail, looking at the Scottish historical context of the proposed building and the various competition entries, before focusing on Miralles' winning entry.