Participating in the historic opening of Holyrood

The recent opening of the new parliament building at Holyrood was a historic moment for Scotland, and the celebrations on 9 October caught the attention of people from all over the world. The University was involved in helping to mark the start of this new era for Scotland, from providing artwork for the new building, to joining in with the celebrations on the day and publishing a book to contextualise the importance of the building itself.

Art of politics

A major work was acquired for the Scottish Parliament building from DJCAD Research Professor Will Mclean, "Voyage of the Anchorites", is currently on display in the garden level of towers one and two at Holyrood. Commenting on the work, art critic Duncan McMillan, who received an honorary degree from the University this year, said, "Will Maclean's Voyage of the Anchorites is about exile, the voluntary exile of the Celtic saints who sailed the western seas and reached America. It was not made for the purpose, but Mclean has been exploring the iconography of exile and the Scottish diaspora for years. It deserves a place here."

Witnessing the opening

By Carol Pope

Unusually it was the architecture that struck the aspirational note while the political speeches were down to earth at the opening ceremony of what will be Scotland's landmark political building of this century. And the sense of the architecture was everywhere - teasing the eye with its curves, angles and surprises; sensuous arcs of sycamore and oak, a bristle of stainless steel, barrel vaulted concrete, kaleidoscopic glimpses of Salisbury crags in glass on glass on glass.

It was the arts that captured, uplifted and amplified the atmosphere. Liz Lochhead's reading of Edwin Morgan's poem crystallised the will of the Scots for politicians to live up to our expectations and take on the mantle of "thinking persons". And I for one was enormously heartened that the music rose above the all-Scottish label roaring confidently through Copeland, soaring through Saint Saens. Nicola Benedetti was sublime on violin and the voice of Eddi Reader swam sweet and mellow in the chamber. Later, strolling through the four leaf shaped Towers - 70% naturally ventilated noted Robin Harper approvingly behind me - Patrick Geddes' mantra leapt to mind: "By leaves we live". These certainly make inspiring leaves to live by.

First title from DUP

The Architecture of Scottish Government: From Kingship to Parliamentary Democracy, the first title from the newly launched Dundee University Press, is a timely publication, coming as it does at the time when the new building is officially opened.

This extensively illustrated book - a historical overview of Scottish buildings of government and assembly from the Middle Ages to the present day - sets Scotland's new parliament in the broader context of the nation's architectural and social history.

The Architecture of Scottish Government is just one of a series of authoritative books on key building types by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland - Scotland's national survey and archive of the historic built environment.

The book has been written by Miles Glendinning with contributions by Aonghus MacKechnie and Richard Oram and an appendix by Athol Murray.