A sneak preview of the inside of the �60m new home of the Welsh assembly in Cardiff Bay has been given to the media. Finance Minister Sue Essex called the Richard Rogers-designed structure a symbol of a "new Wales".
She said the project had not been "without its challenges" but was set to finish within budget.
The construction phase is almost complete and the installation of IT and broadcast equipment is due to begin.
Ms Essex hosted a press event on Tuesday giving the media a preview of the complex.
She said: "This is a very modern building and proves our attempts at sustainable construction. This is a very special public building that has got to last us at least 100 years."
"Most public buildings are quite austere, but this is not forbidding or austere."
 The cowl above the chamber rotates to ease circulation of air |
Ms Essex added: "I hope people will feel this is their building." The structure has green credentials, according to the project's surveyor, Richard Wilson.
He said there were 29 bore holes, sunk to a depth of 100 metres. "They provide earth heat-exchangers drawing heat through water filled pipes" he said.
"They help heat the building in winter and keep it cool in the summer."
He added that there is a bio-mass heating boiler, which burns off cuts from furniture timber and the system can also use wood chip and drift-wood from Cardiff bay.
All the water used in the building, apart from drinking water, will be so called 'grey water' - rain water, collected from the roof.
In the chamber itself a massive central cowl revolves in the wind to help circulate the air and a central conical shaped mirror can be raised and lowered to help control the level of light.
 The dominating entrance foyer looks out across Cardiff Bay |
Many of the walls are glass. And it is the openness of the building that is the most striking feature, according to Jonathan Adams, President of the Royal Society of Architects in Wales and designer of the Wales Millennium Centre.
'Lift the spirits'
He said: "I'm very excited by this building. I love the theatricality. It's the most theatrical public building I have been in.
"It's not a po-faced chamber, it's a place of drama and debate.
"I'm sure it will improve everything about the assembly. This will really lift the spirits.
"The view as you walk up the steps at the entrance and turn back to look at the bay - if they put furniture in the entrance, you can see that people would visit and then stay all day."
Opposition parties have criticised the project for its rising costs - the bill is five times the �12m cost of Lord Rogers' original design.
In August, a row broke out after it emerged �300,000 was being spent on four pieces of modern art to decorate the new building.
The assembly government has said it had always been open about costs and the building was value for money as it would have a 100-year lifespan.
We asked for your views on the building, and below is a cross-section of the replies.
The new building is a real challenge to the assembly to raise its relevance and interest, so as to justify the superb architecture -a real symbol of the new Wales. One point: it's unfair to compare the cost of the new building with the purchase cost of the City Hall, which would have required huge additional expenditure to provide anything like the required facilities (for one thing, the debating chamber is far too small and would need to have been completely rebuilt)
Michael Brooke, Cardiff, WalesI am sure that it looks delightful in its setting on the bay alongside the Millennium Centre and Cardiff people will be able to admire it. It is totally irrelevant to us in the north but they are quite happy to spend our money on these extravagant enterprises.
Brian Matthews, Wrexham
Of course we deserve wonderful buildings and great architecture in Wales. But what a waste of �50 million extra than was suggested when the new building was first proposed in 1998! Do we really need this more than spending the money to reduce waiting lists, improve education, childcare, cut taxes...?
Ann Griffiths, London (ex-Swansea)
It's a building fit for a parliament of a confident, modern nation. Now give us the parliament that we deserve!
C Hughes, Cardiff
Another landmark for Wales which should join the Stadium and the WMC as symbols of our country. Scotland spent �400m on theirs, Whitehall has just spent �100m on MP's offices near Westminster and yet people STILL complain about our �50m. We have a state of the art, artfully built icon for Wales. Stop whingeing and be proud of it!
Guto, Llandwrog
This is an imaginative building that will be a landmark for Cardiff. Yes, the money could have been spent on other things - but that will always be the case. This kind of thinking means we would never build anything for posterity, and we would never have had our beautiful civic centre. I admire the sustainability of the design - but am not convinced its appearance will stand the test of time.
Will, Cardiff
What a waste of money, i wonder if they will spend a day debating where to sit in this one too!
Gareth Dabbs, Cardiff, Wales
 |  What a waste of your tax money |
It's an outrage so much of our money has been spent on this shed, are our representatives completely out of touch with the people of Wales?
Richard, Blaenllechau
What a waste of your tax money
leigh pratt, cardiff
Of course more money could always be spent on schools and hospitals, but what does it say about a nation and its capital if it can't show some civic and national pride? The regeneration of Cardiff is making it a more attractive place to live and work and bringing in investment which has a knock-on effect on the whole South Wales economy. Barcelona has, in a few decades, turned itself from a run-down backwater into one of the hottest tourist destinations in Europe. Where would London, Prague, Paris, Vienna be without their history of visionary architecture? Anyone who cannot see that public buildings need to be more than functional must be irredeemably stupid.
Matt, Cardiff, UK
The people of Wales need to stop translating every single cost into X number of operations, or Y number of village buses. Taxes are meant to pay for goods and services beneficial to the population whether you use them or not. I don't live in a village, yet I help pay for the village bus, and I don't have any children, yet I help pay for schools. The assembly building is something I will use, and think its worth every penny.
Sometimes things need to commissioned that are for the long term, that benefit the country in intangible ways through raising its profile, or building its modern identity. Anyone for Egypt without the pyramids, Rome without the coliseum?
Gareth, Milford Haven
It's fantastic. Just a shame those who refuse to accept that we have an assembly, let alone a building which will give it notoriety all over the world, can't get the chips off their shoulders. Devolution is here and it is here to stay. Deal with it.
Simon, Japan
| The new building is supposed to be a statement of the credibility and impact of the assembly, as opposed to the rented red brick office lump that is it's current home. |
The assembly were offered Cardiff City Hall for �13m but refused outright stating that it was far too expensive. Perverse logic that they then spend nearly five times as much on their latest ego trip. In 100 years' time City Hall will still look as grand as it does today, while the new assembly building will be a decaying eye sore at best!
The building is so typical of the Welsh Assembly, all show and no substance. A nation of healthy, well-educated, employed people would be a far greater asset for Wales to boast about to the rest of the world!
Andy, Cardiff, UK
I completely disagree with David from Neath. The Millennium stadium is an ugly farce as the only economic benefits it brings is to the chain pubs and high street shops; most of which are run from England, which is where most of this money is siphoned out to. The assembly building is also a farce. It is all very well designing a building to embody peoples hopes and aspirations etc, but if you can't deliver on those due to severe cutbacks in public services then what is the point? Emperors' new clothes?
Max Richards, Cardiff, Wales
The new building has been made accessible to disabled people. And Vin West is wrong to say otherwise. During the consultation on the design an Access Advisory Group was established and this drew in a wide range of disability organisations in Wales.
And during the design this group also made several suggestion on how to improve the design and most have been incorporated into the design!
The building also complies with building regulations for disabled access and it was there intention to exceed these where possible.
Lee, Cardiff
People are quick to slam the assembly for not using Cardiff City Hall, but they seem to forget that Russell Goodway, for many years the leader of Cardiff Council, was politically opposed to the assembly and wished to charge a rather large amount of money per year for the privilege.
The new building is supposed to be a statement of the credibility and impact of the assembly, as opposed to the rented red brick office lump that is it's current home. It achieves that.
Kris, Cardiff, UK
North-South divide is further expanded by this expensive extravaganza.
Ieuan Williams, Mission Viejo, California
I can't wait to visit it and look around it. It appears very easy to be glib on this website and make the easy usual comparisons of how much this expenditure would have added to the health service etc. However, that fails to take into account how much the assembly are currently paying for rented accommodation, the investment appraisal and payback over the lifetime of this new building, and biggest of all - whether the health service is able to anymore efficiently and effectively use �60m., or is that just another black hole than can gobble up all the money you care to throw at it. The more landmark buildings in the capital, the better. Let's sell Wales, not carp on!
Paul, Barry, Wales
I feel that this a complete waste of public money when we already had a beautiful city hall with outstanding architecture. Why spend money on this when pensioners are on the breadline and out hospitals are falling apart.
J.M.JONES,
| Does that now mean that they will actually make some decisions that affect us in Wales or have a nice expensive new talking and squabbling shop |
I don't pay my taxes out of the money I spend a lot of my time raising for these buffoons to blow it on a fancy building which is no more functional than their old. They should all be arrested for wasting public funds, and the money given back to the people.
Mike P, Cardiff
Does that now mean that they will actually make some decisions that affect us in Wales or have a nice expensive new talking and squabbling shop
aberystwyth
What a beautiful building - but what a terrible waste of tax payers money! There are so many other things that this money could have been used for. Health, Education, Homelessness..... To name but a few. SHAME.
Rebecca, Cardiff
i completely agree with david from neath. all those people who are asking "what was wrong with city hall in Cardiff?" would do well to remember that when that building was built in 1911 there were the usual mal-contents whining 'wouldn't the money be better spent on schools and hospitals!?" of course schools and hospitals could always do with more money, but the national assembly building is supposed to embody the hopes and aspirations of our nation. anything less than a bold and striking architectural statement would simply not be acceptable. i wonder if those people who baulked at the cost of the millennium stadium are still complaining now?? i think not!
gareth, ynys mon
We need more buildings that, like the Welsh Assembly, look to the future and not to the past (aka Prince Charles).
paul , Barcelona (ex-UK)
Their old building isn't exactly falling down...unlike my children's school. If this shows us how OUR assembly prioritise spending OUR money, then I'm not impressed.
sue, Swansea, UK
From �12m to �60m.If the Welsh Assembly cannot control the costs of putting up a big house what chance is there of them effectively governing Wales. In spite of what all the experts say it sound like an ego trip for those in power.
john russell, neath
What was the matter with Cardiff City Hall which has a ready-made debating chamber and was available at nil cost? Every single member of the Assembly should be personally surcharges for this gross waste of public money.
Rhodri Griffiths, Cardiff
If the assembly has a spare �60m, it would be better spent on improving the Health Service and other public amenities in Wales and not on another ''Soulless'' building to beautify Cardiff Bay. What about using the money to attract investment and improving transport links with Wales? The current assembly building is more than adequate to accommodate the ''internees'' who are completely out of touch with the needs of the people of Wales and would rather spend the much needed money on themselves. Other ''Third World'' countries manage quite well without such a monstrosity.
David Nicholls, Swansea, Wales
Typical miserable Welsh folk making comments about hospitals and families. The usual things rear their heads. Same was said about the Millennium Stadium among other new buildings. People be proud for once and stop your whining.
david, Neath
The inside looks like nothing quite as much as a cooling tower: I presume the building's been designed to obtain the maximum possible benefit from hot air.
Jel, Brussels and Swansea
60m the money could have been spent on our schools which are in a very bad state but they again a very nice building which does attracts a lot of revenue for the area. Jon Jenkins
JON JENKINS, CARDIFF
A waste of tax payers money just like the body that will occupy the building.
Peter Haig, Cwmbran Wales
I hope that in years to come that we will look back and say that the benefits outweighed the cost. Somehow I doubt it. The standard of debate so far in the history of the assembly has been very poor. There has been far too much time spent on trivia and petty politicking. I doubt whether there would be a mandate to continue with the exercise if the people were given the opportunity to choose again. It's definitely been a let down so far.
Geraint Evans, Abergavenny
I think we all need to sit and think a bit before we comment or judge the new building. If we love Wales and want to be part of a nation with a separate identity, then surely it makes sense to create somewhere special that inspires pride, belonging and ownership, to be the place where decisions affecting our lives are taken. I know it's expensive but quality costs and I am convinced that we will grow to love, respect and be proud of our future parliament building. Not pleased if there are disabled access problems however, need to get that sorted asap. Have faith, icons take time to become loved.
gareth jones, Yr Wyddgrug
A great symbol for the new Wales - open for all to see our new democratic institution at work
richard edwards, prestatyn in clwyd
It's good to hear about the various sustainable technologies used in the building of the assembly building - if only they were accessible to more of us living in Cardiff South. However, a 100 year lifespan? That doesn't sound like a very long time for a public building.
Vashti, Cardiff, Wales
Total waste of Welsh tax payers money, to think there are people in Wales cant even find a NHS dentist to treat them due to lack of money, hospitals in Wales short of staff and resources,
andrew sinclair, guilsfield .wales
| An impressive building but I just see it in terms of money wasted. How many operations would have been carried out, how many schools would have benefited. |
What a total waste of what nearly �70 million, is that what political independence is all about... bull. Another 1st for the WASTE Assembly Government.
John Lewis, Aberaeron West Wales
How many people could have been treated in Hospitals with that money, health is priority and yet they WASTE money, there's nothing wrong with the building they use now. How long will it be before they will tell us that the building is going to be renovated? the people in Wales including myself are just as guilty for letting them WASTE all that money.
Ian, Neath South Wales
What a Disgrace! �60M on a crappy building that's not even necessary, there was nothing wrong with the old building, more taxpayers money down the drain courtesy of the welsh assembly. welsh assembly should be scrapped, biggest worthless waste of space I've ever seen.
mike, Swansea
An impressive building but I just see it in terms of money wasted. How many operations would have been carried out, how many schools would have benefited. It just seems to me that the money could have been spent in more needy areas.
Jayne, Pembrokeshire
�300,000 on four pieces of modern art? So that's why we had rebanding on council tax.
Mr Yeo, Llantwit Fardre
This will be a world class facility and bring government to the Cardiff Bay for all to enjoy.
It is depressing that there is so much negative statements about everything associated with progress.
As a nation we need to be more positive about our successes instead of constantly trying to find fault.
S Luke, Cardiff
| This is just the elite looking after themselves |
I like many others voted to get an Assembly. I lived in Newport for many years and seeing how little the Assembly actually did for Wales I was disappointed. Now they have spend all that money on a new building, it would have been better if they had put the money into Hospitals. It is needed there, not something like this. This building is a disgrace.
Renate Parr, Baza, Spain
It is a ridiculous waste of money. That �60m could have been spent on the people and not the elected representatives. It could have funded the NHS or gone towards trying and keep rural schools open, or redistributed to the poor in some manner!
This is just the elite looking after themselves
Geraint, Ceredigion
I totally agree with the words of Gavin Harris, Wales should be proud of this building, I am looking forward to seeing it when it is open to the public.
Emma, Pontypridd
The new Assembly building is a disgrace! The architect Richard Rogers was given the brief to exemplify access to the democratic process, but the building has such poor access for disabled people that the disability organisations on the consultation group had to walk away because they were not being listened to.
Do you think a long flight of steps says 'equal access' to a wheelchair user?
Vin West, Caernarfon - North Wales
| I walk past the new assembly building every day - it's stunning! |
I walk past the new assembly building every day - it's stunning!
Louise, Cardiff
An absolute waste of tax payers money. The emphasis needs to be on improving and issuing sound legislation for the Welsh people, not worrying about where the poor excuse for an Assembly Government can park their overpaid backsides. Owain Glyndwr would turn in his grave.
Richard Evans, Cardiff Bay - Wales
I think it is money well spent, as Wales can now proudly express its partial political independence with a truly modern and accessible public building. Finally we have an international quality piece of architecture in the bay, which will hopefully go against the general perception that Wales is introverted, unadventurous, unwilling to build good buildings and that we can now celebrate a great building. Let's hope the AMs and the assembly government can raise their standards to match the quality home they now have.
Gavin Harris, Ruthin
The new Assembly building is a disgrace! The architect Richard Rogers was given the brief to exemplify access to the democratic process, but the building has such poor access for disabled people that the disability organisations on the consultation group had to walk away because they were not being listened to.
Do you think a long flight of steps says 'equal access' to a wheelchair user?
Vin West, Caernarfon - North Wales
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