Best Parliament/Capitol/Seat of Government Buildings

[CherryCreek]

Originally Posted by Centropolis

partial to the nebraska state capital:

AARP.com

joelsartore.com


pinterest.com

Most capital buildings are phallic, but Nebraska's is the phalliciest! Go Huskers!

[suburbanite]

The Binnenhof in The Hague also ranks up there for me. I love buildings built right up to or over the water.


from: https://kiwidutch.wordpress.com/2011...ble-commences/

[LMich]

Really just an excuse to show it off, but while the Michigan State Capitol was done on a budget and people complain about the exterior proportions, it really has one of the best interior rotundas in the country, I think.


Rotunda by Michigan State Historic Preservation Office, on Flickr


Serene Winter Night at the Michigan Capitol by Bryan Newland, on Flickr

Also, while not a seat of government, I love the Altare della Patria in Rome because it's so over-the-top. lol

[DCCliff]

Originally Posted by chrisvfr800i

I was there in July of this year. Budapest was fantastic! We sat in the park adjacent to the Parliament building at dusk and watched all the lights gradually come on. Someone was playing "Blue Danube" in the background. Quite a sight!

Yes, it's a knockout and beautifully restored after the fall of communism. But ironically it now less and less reflects full representative government as Hungary lurches toward far-right and xenophobia -- which about half it's population doesn't really seem to want. What a sad reality. Consider the building a beautiful ghost of democracy past.

[DCCliff]

It screams "Imperial" even as Austria no longer has an empire, and the vast complex is in Greek Revival style inspired by the ancient democracy of Athens even though the defunct Empire was hardly democratic nor were its feudal Germanic traditions Greco-Roman. However, what the Habsburgs lacked in liberal democratic traditions, national identity, or nation-state unity they made up for in grand architecture, and with the Ringstraße they were able to go all-out with historicist monumental buildings in the grand imperial style of a capital of a Great Power. A certain impoverished Viennese street painter watched in disgust from the public viewing balcony the curious spectacle of a cosmopolitan, ethnically kaleidoscopic, multi-lingual, and semi-medieval empire tentatively dabbling with modern, representative government, and concocted instead his own twisted views of rulership and delusions of grandeur.[/QUOTE]

Well and succinctly put.

[Cirrus]

Originally Posted by LMich

Michigan State Capitol... people complain about the exterior proportions

I like it because it's unique. At least half the state capitols are totally interchangeable. The odd proportions make that one memorable.

[suburbanite]

Originally Posted by Cirrus

I like it because it's unique. At least half the state capitols are totally interchangeable. The odd proportions make that one memorable.

That's my only issue with U.S. State Capitols. Individually they are all well-designed and high-quality buildings, but they took one recipe and basically copied it all the way across the Midwest.

That being said, if the formula works, it works.

That's why I love the Capitol Building in Austin though. Some subtle changes make it stand out against all the other pure white ones.


from:https://www.tripsavvy.com/visiting-t...complex-254881

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by suburbanite

Some subtle changes make it stand out against all the other pure white ones.

illinois' capitol is a bit distinctive too with its yellow joliet limestone, dark granite trim, zinc-coated dome & roofs, and extremely tall, elongated dome.

in fact, it's tallest domed capitol building in the US (even taller than the US capitol in DC) 361' t/ dome, 405' t/ flagpole, which may count for a few extra SSP bonus points


source: https://www.illinoisinfocus.com/illi...-building.html


it's not the best state capitol out there, but it's impressive enough.

[The North One]

^ tbh, It's very phallic-esque.

[pico44]

New York. Especially in the context of the neighboring Empire State Plaza.



ACC




http://wittman.us

[muertecaza]

Originally Posted by suburbanite

That's my only issue with U.S. State Capitols. Individually they are all well-designed and high-quality buildings, but they took one recipe and basically copied it all the way across the Midwest.

That being said, if the formula works, it works.

That's why I love the Capitol Building in Austin though. Some subtle changes make it stand out against all the other pure white ones.

Arizona's original state house is definitely NOT the most grand or beautiful, but I like it for some of the same reasons--it's got some nice local touches, like the copper dome, and seems to fit the sort of pioneer ethos of Arizona.


http://capitolshots.com/state-capito...state-capitol/

The original state house, however, is now a museum. The legislative houses and executive now do their work in adjacent buildings. The executive tower I would argue now has the dubious distinction of being likely one of the ugliest state capitols in the country/world:


http://www.sundt.com/why-sundt/histo..._corr_webview/

[Obadno]

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/wp-...ße_Halle-.jpg

Well, gee, it would have been pretty spectacular.

Watch man in the high castle season 2 if you want to see it in its full...ahem.. Fatherland Glory

[Obadno]

How can you not love red square, its so weird, and cold and bleak and asymetrical.

And perfectly Russian:

[Cirrus]

India's is an interesting take.


laurie jones via flickr

[CherryCreek]

I like North Dakota's - modern, simple.