Cardiff – Senedd – The Welsh National Assembly

October 19, 2008 at 12:46 pm | Posted in General, Out and About, Tourism, Travel, UK | 2 Comments
Tags: architecture, Cardiff, Cardiff Bay, Free, National Assembly, politics, review, Senedd, Tourism, Travel, UK, Wales

The Welsh National Assembly, the Senedd (Senate) is a unique building situated on Cardiff Bay.

Throughout the day they offer free tours. If you’re lucky you may even be the only one on the tour. My guide was happy to answer my questions about the building and Welsh politics. The building was built with the environment in mind both in terms of sustainability and the materials available in Wales used for its construction.

The spacious atriums are  filled with natural light and with the slate floors and wooden ceilings provide a warm and pleasant atmosphere. The upper level allows you to look down on the assembly chamber. The assembly chamber itself is danker than the rest of the building. It feels contradictory given the amount of potential light to come down. A small fact the ceremonial mace was donated by the government of New South Wales, Australia as a gift on the opening of the Senedd.

Overall the 30 minute tour was interesting from an architectural and political perspective. While the building may largely just house the assembly chamber but it also provides a focus for the nascent Welsh political system.