“ARCHITECTURE OF DEMOCRACY”

“ARCHITECTURE OF DEMOCRACY”
AN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF DRAWINGS,P HOTOGRAPHS & MODELS OF PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT THE AGES

OFFICE OF PUBLIC WORKS, 51 ST STEPHEN’S GREEN, DUBLIN 2
12 MAY – 23 JUNE 2000

The Architecture of Democracy exhibition explores the connection between architecture

and political ideals and indeed, between architecture and politics. It celebrates and

explores the interrelationship between democracy and nationhood.

The Exhibition is the first to take place in the new public space in the Atrium of the

Office of Public Works, St Stephen’s Green and is in conjunction with
Glasgow Tours. The Exhibition formed part of the Glasgow 1999 UK City of

Architecture and Design Programme. It will run from May 12th until June 23rd 2000

and will then continue on to the Cube Gallery in Manchester and venues in Berlin,

Barcelona and Canberra.

Since its Greek origins, the pursuit of democratic government has produced some of the worlds most highly charged, stylistically accomplished and resonant works of architecture. Successive generations of architects have worked to create parliament buildings thate xpress both national identity and democracy.

This exhibition curated by Deyan Sudjic and Helen Jones and designed by Wordsearch brings together artworks, architectural drawings and models, photography, film and video and 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. The introductory video features a number of dramatic scenes in parliaments around the world, including President Kennedy addressing Dail Eireann, Kruschev in the United Nations and shooting in the Cortes.

Amongst important exhibits seldom seen in exhibition are a collection of images of every parliament in Europe by Germanp hotographer Joerg Hempel, drawings by renowned architects such as Sir Charles Barry, Basil Spence and Michael Hopkins, significant artifacts such as the Pugin tiles and paintings from the Palace of Westminster (many of which have not been publicly exhibited before), designs for the Capitol, Washington and a range of architectural models, including ten models considering options
for the Reichstag dome by Foster and Partners.

The twentieth century architecture of democracy will be 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 Kahn (1962- 83)

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

Capital 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)

The twenty first century architecture of democracy is celebrated with the
competition model and designs for the Welsh Assembly by Richard Rogers
and the Partnership Architectural model of the new Scottish Parliament by Enric
Miralles/RMJM. The final exhibits, present models of two significant new parliamentary
buildings to provide office accommodation and committee rooms: Portcullis
House, by Michael Hopkins, currently nearing completion in Westminster and an exhibit of Leinster House 2000, the additional accommodation for the Houses of the Oireachtas in Dublin, which is being completed by the OPW and will open in September 2000.

In its scope the Architecture of Democracy is 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, we shall attempt to show that heritage means continuity and within each tradition there lies a universality of aspiration guiding architects in their varied quest to encase the democratic forum.