h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

For the benefit of those of us who are too dense or ill informed to understand the significance of the graphic that accompanies this article, will someone please explain? Thank you!

It's a side view of the MSP building. The funny looking harp-shaped windows are built as 'contemplation spaces' for the MSPs to sit during their quieter moments.

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/holyrood/building/mspBuilding.htm

Very interesting ... thank you! A most unusual design! I'm fascinated by interesting and unusual architecture. Helps keep life from being too predictable. Perhaps some day I'll have the pleasure of seeing it in person.

Part of what was throwing me off was the perspective of the view. Upon first seeing it, I somehow thought I was looking at a horizontal surface rather than a vertical surface. Interesting how perspective can have such a powerful influence on how the brain interprets an image. Of course, being totally unfamiliar with the building, I wouldn't have known what it was even if I'd have put it in the proper perspective.

It's a stunning and fascinating building. I've never been to it, but I'd like to visit next time I'm north of the broder.

It should indeed be stunning - the original build cost was I believe £65M the eventual cost was £401M.

That's fairly bloody typical of when our representatives have a building built for them: the cost spirals out of control. Look at Portcullis House for heaven's sake. From the Grauniad:
"Portcullis House, which houses 210 MPs and their staff, was commissioned in 1992 at a cost of £165m. But after building cost inflation and delays, the price jumped to £235m. Costs included £150,000 for decorative fig trees, £2m for electric blinds and, for each MP, a reclining chair at £440"

£440 for a reclining chair? Can't they operate their own bloody blinds like I do?

My dentist subscribes to Architectural Digest magazine ( http://www.architecturaldigest.com ) and typically has several recent copies lying around his waiting room. I've gotten into the habit of arriving early for my checkups so as to have a bit more time to peruse these magazines, which are lavishly illustrated with mouth-watering photos. The magazine's focus, however, seems to be more on unusual luxury homes (all well out of my price range, I might add) rather than on larger, spectacular buildings such as the MSP building. Fascinating nonetheless.

I had the good fortune to go on a conducted tour of the Scottish parliament last year. It's had a lot of bad press and the media image does not do it justice. I'd thoroughly recommend a visit to make up your own mind as to its merits.
On balance, I think it is an excellent building. The debating chamber (with new improved roof structure) is magnificent. The committee rooms (in one of which we held an industry body AGM) are superb. Stunning views, light and airy. There are however some less attractive features. The entrance hall is dark, 'dank' even. Some of the walls wouldn't look out of place in a multi-storey carpark. (A bit of B&Q magnolia lberally applied would work wonders!
The biggest problem I have with the place is more to do with the parliament than the building - the standard of some of the debating is atrocious!