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August 20, 2004
Holyrood: no natural acoustic?
This afternoon, we visited the new parliament: the public areas, the debating chamber (where we sat in the second SNP row) and some committee rooms.
I am still not sure whether I like the building. It is, of course, unfinished and it isn't easy to imagine the final effect in many places (apparently a fair amount of the concrete inside will be covered up).
Outside the Debating Chamber. Photo © S Holledge
Much of the light comes from above, so the weather really influences the mood inside the building. It's better when the sun is shining, otherwise it is a bit dark, and in some places claustrophobic, because of the heavy, low, almost medieval, ceilings, especially at ground level, but also in some committee rooms.
It's a building of extraordinary complexity and must have been a builder's nightmare. Every room is an irregular shape. It's noticeable how many of the sharply-angled corners of the floors are still unfinished.
My impression - based on hearing a talk in the debating chamber and attending a mock committee meeting - is that almost all speakers will be using microphones.
The debating chamber appears to lack a natural acoustic. This may be because of the way the high roof is constructed. The carpeting may also be a factor. However it's extraordinary that Westminster, with over 600 MPs, doesn't need microphones (except obviously for broadcasting), but Holyrood with 129 MSPs does!
In the committee rooms members apparently have to press a button to activate their microphone if they wish to speak (a light comes on) - rather like a TV quiz show!
Posted by Simon Holledge at August 20, 2004 07:47 PM