Notes from New Parliament House Research

Some quick notes on New Parliament House research.

From-
Beck, H. The Architecture of Parliament House

• The Griffins originally wanted the parliament house to be built on Camp Hill. Capital Hill, elevated above Camp Hill, was to be reserved for the people of Australia.
• This was the reason the design of new parliament house included a grassed roof, after the brief for the competition changed the location to Capital Hill. This still allows the people to be above the parliament.
• The carcass of the building was made first, while the details were still being designed, to fast-track the construction process.
• Flag - Nationhood
• Hill - Place
• Wall - Inhabitation

From-

RAIA Heritage Report on New Parliament House

"The design accepts the circular design of the site as the generating form of the Parliament Complex. Within that circle, a central linear sequence of formal meeting rooms is framed by two massive curvilinear walls which enclose within their arcs the Offices and Chambers of the Senate and House of Representatives. The curved walls related to Kings Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, Adelaide Avenue and Hobart Avenue. As a result the complex has four major elements; the Senate, the House of Representatives, a central "forum" and a separate Executive Government area. " "The brief required a 200 year life span for the building, which initiated a project wide effort from design through construction to achieve a timeless integration of design and function which would stand through the decades of use and change. "