The widow of the architect behind the iconic parliament building at Holyrood has voiced concern over the new £6.5m planned security extension.

Benedetta Tagliabue, wife of Holyrood architect, the late Enric Miralles, has warned her husband’s famous design is about to be ruined forever.

Ms Tagliabue is also an architect and played a key part in the Holyrood project.

She told the Evening News of her disappointment at not being involved in plans to alter the front of the £414m building.

The controversial, planned alteration will see the addition of a security annexe intended to ensure visitors are screened outwith the main building.


She said: "I believe buildings are alive and when you want to make a change you have to change in the same symphony.

"The best symphony is to go on with the same type of architecture. I would like to have been asked or involved somehow. The building was finished in 2004. It’s not so long ago, you could say this is still part of the process of construction."

Ms Tagliabue added: "I’m sure it’s going to ruin the feeling you can enter the parliament easily. Instead of having a shadow and a pergola to indicate easy access at the bottom level, you will have a walk along a corridor, which is ridiculous."

A spokesman for the Scottish Parliament said: "The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is satisfied that Edinburgh-based design team Lee Boyd has produced a fixed design that is very sympathetic to the parliament’s architecture and surrounding environment."

(IT/GK)