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1
The dramatic
front elevation and
oversailing roof
address Cardiff Bay.
2
Neighbours include
the Pierhead
building, now a linked
educational facility,
and the Millennium
Centre beyond.
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view
view
context of the Millennium Centre next door,
the adjacent Pierhead building being used as an
educational facility, and of Cardiff Bay itself,
a large expanse of water behind the barrage
designed by Will Alsop.
The extended overhanging roof, with its
undulating red cedar slatted timber soft, is a
visual complement to the rippling water in the
bay beyond. It gives a real sense of importance
and occasion as you arrive, at plinth level
(magnicently built in Welsh slate, cleaved and
pillared to show off the quality of the material).
You enter an offset security zone and then arrive
in the main living room space, a huge volume
where you can sit, attend informal meetings or
presentations, and watch whatever is happening
in the assembly chamber on one of the many
screens available (all the IT in the buildings is
top-grade). Within the volume you can go to the
upper level caf and sit round the magnicent
timber-clad bell that acts as a light source
and ventilation exit for the assembly chamber
at lower ground level, which includes meeting
rooms and three double-height, glazed-wall
committee chambers. Glass bridges link to an
adjacent existing ofce building where members
and staff have permanent facilities, but most of
the circulation in the building is open to all.
Natural ventilation is the norm, with the
help of 27 boreholes 100m deep, connected
to heat exchangers to provide a temperature
range control, there is some mechanical and
air-conditioning assistance if required, plus
underoor heating. It feels very clement.
3
Upper level of the public space; the
caf is next to the Bell structure
which hovers over the debating
chamber below. Furniture, by Arne
Jacobsen, was selected after appraising
the condition of what he used for St
Catherines College, Oxford.
4
The plinth level arrival space and
information desk.
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Natural ventilation is
available to vir tually all areas
though there is mixed mode
assistance for extreme
conditions. A wood-fuelled
boiler provides renewable
heating while a rainwater
harvesting system supplies
all (except potable) water.
Daylight is maximised. The
overall design achieved an
excellent BREEAM rating
and exceeds best practice
guidelines. Automatic
controls monitor internal and
external environments and
adjust passive elements (eg,
windows) and active systems
(eg, heating).
Performance monitoring is
carried out through sensors in
the building structure.
5
Triple-height slots run
either side of the debating
chamber.
6
The public views the
Assembly at work through
unintrusive security glazing.
7
Upward view of the bell/
funnel allowing in light,
taking out air.
6
ground condition heat exchangers and apertures create an integrated environmental approach
Architect
Richard Rogers
Partnership, London
Structural engineer
Arup
Environmental/ME
services engineer
BDSP
Acoustic consultant
SRL
Landscape architect
Gillespies
Photographs
Richard Bryant/Arcaid
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mid level; visitors can observe the Assembly and committees at work
roof plan; glazed bridge links connect to the existing administration block
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