Reading: The Making of Parliament

Reference: Beck, H. ed. 1988. The Architecture of Australia’s Parliament House. Sydney: Watermark Press. Essays. pp13-43.

• Australian materials were used
• Craftmanship revival
• Fast-tracking: 1) Structure 2) Cladding

The Idea of Australia

• The Flag: 'Emblem of nationhood'
• The Hill: 'Embodiment of place'
• Wall: 'mark of human inhabitation'

These three abstract concepts could be used to capture a sense of identity for the agents of Parliament, as there would be a variety of ways to interpret the concepts.

Image from: australiantraveller.com/images/galleries/2613/020052Parliament-House01.jpg


Building Axes

• Visitors enter from North
• Members of House of Representatives enter from East
• Ministers enter from South
• Senators enter from West
• Geographic: 'North/South & East/West'  
• Programatic: 'public/private & Member/ Senator'
• Symbolic: 'citizens/ elected leader & lower house/ upper house'

Entrances

• Portico- pubilc entrance
• Porte Cochere- less public & approached by car
• Front door- private entrance

When both Houses are sitting

• over 3500 people occupy 4000 rooms
• daily visitors 5000 people
• 1500 catered for state occasions
• Media have to be accommodated