In August last year, architectural firm Assemblage was crowned the winner of a competition which called for entries to design the new $1bn Iraqi parliament building. Now, the firm has released details of their winning design, which has been described as a modern-looking Colosseum.
‘A modern parliament building must embody the transparency between citizens and their government which reflects the essential democratic relationship,’ the firm announced in a press release. ‘This is not literal transparency, but is about the building’s feeling of public ownership and accessibility. It must impart the positive possibility of the State: larger than the individual, but supportive and engaging – not aggressive or oppressive.’
