The Architecture of Democracy

The Architecture of Democracy provides a unique exploration of how democracy,as a specific system of government, has influenced some of the world's most highly charged, accomplished and resonant works or architecture.

The exhibition - curated by Deyan Sudjic and Helen Jones and designed by Wordsearch Exhibitions - brings together artworks, architectural drawings and models, photography, film, and video plus other cultural artifacts that illustrate the development of design for democracy. Through a fantastic range of material representative of the broadest historical period and drawn from diverse geographical regions, the Architecture of Democracy traces the evolution of the built forms for political debate.

In 2001 Scotland's new parliament building, designed by Enric Miralles/RMJM, will open. The exhibition attempts to locate this - the latest parliament building in the world - within the traditions of design for political forums that began in Ancient Antiquity.

Architecture celebrates democracy and nationhood. The Architecture of Democracy explores that interrelationship. In its scope the exhibition will be both historical, and forward looking. It aims to give the widest public a deeper understanding of democratic traditions, and to demonstrate how national and political aspirations have been reflected in architecture. As powerful a force as nationalism is, the exhibition attempts to show that heritage means continuity and within each tradition there lies a university of aspiration guiding architects in their varied quest to encase the democratic forum.

Amongst important exhibits seldom seen in exhibition are a collection of images of every parliament in Europe by German photographer Joerg Hempel, original drawings by renowned architects such as Charles Barry, William Kent, Herbert Baker, Basil Spence and Michael Hopkins, significant artifacts such as the Pugin throne from the House of Lords, and the only representation of the Downsitting of the pre-1707 Scottish Parliament. Highlights will include a rare depiction of the Riding of the Scottish Parliament during the seventeenth century lent by the Lord Lyon, oil paintings from the Palace of Westminster( many of which have not been seen outside the confines of Government), designs for the Capitol, Washington, and film footage of open-air Nordic assemblies, such as the Icelandic Althing or general assembly (established in 930).

The first section of the exhibition is devoted to the Classical tradition and its architectural legacy, which is juxtaposed with the more nationalistic rival tradition, this reached its apotheosis with the Gothic of Westminster.

The twentieth century architecture of democracy is considered via seven case study examples of international recognition:

Chandigarh, designed by Le Corbusier(1954)

Brazilian National Assembly, designed by Oscar Niemeyer(1962)

Dacca, Bangladesh designed by Louis Khan(1962-83)

New Second Chamber, The Haague, designed by P B de Brujin (1978-85)

Capitol Hill, Canberra, designed by Mitchell Giurgola and Thorp (completed 1988)

Federal Parliament, Bonn, designed by Behnisch and Partner(completed 1991)

Rebuilding of the Reichstag, by Foster and Partners (1994-99)

This exhibition reveals that each attempt to design a home for a democratic legislature creates lessons that the careful observer may take away and benefit from.