How the New Parliament House in Canberra Symbolizes Australian Identity
Abstract
The new parliament house in Canberra is the centerpiece of the Australian capital. The building serves as the administrative and political capital of the country. It is host to the prime minister and his cabinet as well as the Senate and House of Representatives. A unique aspect of the new parliament house is its openness to the people of Australia who are free to enter and explore the building. The parliament house is hence identified as the most open parliament building in the world. Another unique quality about the building is that it is specifically designed to represent and celebrate different aspects of the Australian identity and cultural heritage. Therefore, all the different design elements pay tribute to specific elements of Australian identity.
This paper reviews the design of the new parliament house and the different elements that symbolize aspects of Australian identity. The first section provides an introduction of the building, a brief history, and the functions of the new parliament house. The second part provides an in-depth review of several features of the building, and how their designs symbolize Australian identity. The architectural elements reviewed include the forecourt, great verandah, foyer, and great hall. Overall, the new parliament house is found to be a fitting representation of the identity of Australia.
How the New Parliament House in Canberra Symbolizes Australian Identity
Australia’s new parliament house in Canberra is one of the largest buildings in the southern hemisphere. The parliament house holds a unique place in the world as it is one of the most open parliamentary buildings in the world. The building was designed and built to be open to all the Australian people and serves as the heart of Australian democracy. Apart from being a functional building for Australian politics and administration, the building is also a major national symbol. The parliament building hosts both the senate and House of Representatives, the cabinet, office of the prime minister, and offices for other ministers and parliamentary members. Additionally, the building hosts a large collection of art and other craftworks. With a design selected as part of an international design competition, the parliament house in Canberra was built to symbolize the identity of the island and the people of Australia. The parliament house is the centerpiece of the city of Canberra, the capital of the country. Ultimately, the magnificence of the new parliament house in Canberra was specifically designed to symbolize the identity of the Australian land and its people.
The new house boasts some great history and is an important landmark and milestone for Australian history and heritage. The new parliament house was built to replace the old parliament house, which had become inadequate for the needs of the new parliament (Gadd, 2015). Originally built to support a few hundred people, the provisional parliament building was crammed with over 3000 people by the time the new parliament house came along. This problem prompted the decision to build a new house of parliament that would be adequate for the current and future needs of the Australian people and government. The journey to the building of the new parliament has come a long way. At the start, parliament proceedings were held in Melbourne at the Victorian parliament house. However, a dispute between Sydney and Melbourne on which was the capital of Australia led to a decision to establish a new capital city with Canberra emerging as the best option (PEO, 2019). Furthermore, the new house to be built in Canberra was to be designed by the winner of an international design competition. As a result, New York architectural firm Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp emerged victorious from the 320 entries. In the end, the magnificent structure was made into reality and stands today as an architectural marvel that reflects the Australian heritage.
The main function of the new parliament house in Canberra was to serve as the administrative and legislative center for the country. The building was also meant to serve as a symbol of unity for the people of Australia. This objective is reflected in the opening statement by then Prime Minister, Bob Hawke – “This building will become for our nation both the forum for our differences and the instrument of our unity. A building for all Australians, a Parliament reflecting the diversity of our entire society and responding to the needs of the whole community” (PEO, 2019). The parliament building houses the country’s top leadership and political representatives. It includes the office of the prime minister and offices for other state ministers as well. The cabinet room where government ministers meet to discuss national issues and policies is also located in the building. Apart from government officials, the house also includes offices for the senators and members of the House of Representatives. Additionally, both houses of parliament are housed within the building. The grand design of the building includes the placement of rooms in a way that symbolizes the interconnection between the political and executive arms of the government with the Australian people.
As stated above, the design of the new parliament house was a result of an international design contest where architecture firm Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp emerged as winners. The contest provided participants with guidance on the required specifications for the new building. Chief among these specifications was the requirement for the building to draw its designs from the Australian landscape, biodiversity, culture, and heritage. The new house was meant to symbolize the beauty and identity of the Australian people (Bennet, 2008). Therefore, every aspect of the building was designed to represent a part of the Australian identity. For starters, the parliament house was built to seamlessly blend into the landscape rather than on the hill as previously intended. The principal architect, Romaldo Giurgola, explains this design choice by stating that “the parliament house could not be built on top of the hill as this would symbolize a government imposed on the people” (Bennet, 2008). To achieve the welcoming effect, two walls that are designed to appear outstretched, thus symbolizing a welcome gesture, frame the main entrance to the building. This design is a reflection of the Australian people’s willingness to welcome people to their homes.
The forecourt is the first outstanding feature that people encounter at the entrance to the building. It is paved with red gravel and stones and a large ceremonial pool at the center. A granite mosaic by native Papunya artist Michael Nelson Jagamara is placed at the center of the forecourt pool (PEO, 2019). The mosaic is based on the artist’s famous painting called the ‘Possum and Wallaby Dreaming’ and includes 90,000 hand-polished granite pieces. The mosaic sits on an island in the middle of the pool, symbolizing the Australian continent. Moreover, the mosaic comprises indigenous Australian animals, including a kangaroo, wallaby, goanna, and brush-tail possum depicted as gathering for an important ceremony. This mosaic is a representation of the sand-painting tradition of the Warlpiri people of whom the artist, Jagamara, is a member (PEO, 2019). The outstretched walls of the entrance are also a part of the forecourt.
Another feature designed to reflect the identity of the Australian people is the Great Verandah. It includes a screen wall that comprises of 22 columns with a glazed glass roof on top. The slabs making up the screen wall are made of Italian Carrara marble, and all were cut from the same cliff face. The great verandah was included in the design to pay tribute to the Australian tradition of building homes with extensive verandahs (PEO, 2019). The verandah in Australian homes ha the function of giving shelter from the rain and shade from the sun. It is also the part of an Australian home where guests are welcomed when they arrive and given a farewell. Therefore, the inclusion of the great verandah pays special tribute to a common identity of Australian architecture. Additionally, a stainless steel Coat or Arms is incorporated into the great verandah. The coat of arms is the work of Sydney sculptor, Robin Blau, and is based on a crosshatching style of painting known as ‘rarrk’ (PEO, 2019). This style of painting is derived from the ‘Arnhem land in the northern Australian territory and acknowledges the contribution of the indigenous people in Australia. The style is also used to create the coat of arms at the entrance of the executive wing.
In contrast to the open design of the forecourt, the foyer is designed to be a cool ad tranquil space with soft lighting and marble surfaces. The foyer comprises of skylights and windows within 48 marble-clad columns that allow sunlight to filter in naturally (Bennet, 2008). The grey-green columns are designed to create the impression of walking through a forest by using spaces that open, close, and seamlessly blend with the light. Moreover, marquetry panels based on the design by Adelaide artist Tony Bishop and crafted by Sydney artisan, Michael Retter, top the walls in the foyer. The panels are adorned with illustrations of Australian flora that include a variety of plans and species that are over 200 million years old (PEO, 2019). The design also depicts different plants used for food and medicine by the aboriginal people. Therefore, the foyer represents that natural plants and forests that adorn the Australian landscape.
The great hall is another outstanding feature of the new parliament house that represents the identity of Australian architecture, art, and landscape. The great hall includes a large open space that was designed for hosting official and ceremonial occasions. The room features wall paneling and floors made from several Australian timbers with a central skylight on top. The use of different types of Australian wood symbolizes how Australia is shaped by its physical environment (PEO, 2019). The room is usually referred to as ‘room of the land,’ illustrating the use of indigenous wood in the panels. Furthermore, the great hall includes a tapestry that depicts the work by Australian artist Arthur Boyd. The tapestry is the centerpiece of the great hall and illustrates a dense eucalyptus forest. Rather than being a panoramic view, the design depicts a detailed section of the forest in the Shoalhaven region of New South Wales (PEO, 2019). By using a detailed section rather than a full panoramic view, Boyd creates the illusion of a landscape that has no beginning or end. This represents the landscape around the parliament house and the natural connections of land and architecture seen throughout the country.
Other aspects of the design include the art collection and the distinctive flag on the roof. The parliament house includes a large art collection by indigenous artists and craftsmen that seamlessly blend into the design of the building (Gadd, 2015). The works of art and craft represent the diverse identity and character of the Australian people and natural heritage. Consequently, the Australian flag flies high on the roof of the building and is the most identifiable symbol of the parliament house. The flag is a symbol of national unity and identifies the new parliament house as the political and administrative capital of the country. In conclusion, it is evident that all the elements of the design of the new parliament house are specifically tailored to symbolize various aspects of the Australian identity. Therefore, the new parliament house in Canberra is not only a magnificent architectural marvel but also a true symbol of the identity and character of the Australian landscape and its people.
References
Bennet, S. (2008, May 7) Parliament House and the Australian People, Parliament Library.
Gadd, N. (2015, May 18) Canberra’s Parliament House: A ‘Symbol of National Identity’ – a
History of Cities in 50 Buildings, Day 39, The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/may/18/canberras-parliament-house-a-symbol-of-national-identity-a-history-of-cities-in-50-buildings-day-39
Parliamentary Education Office (2019, November 28) Australia’s Parliament House,
Parliamentary Education Office. https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/parliament-house/australias-parliament-house/