Parliamentary architecture and national identity
Victoria University Professor Nigel Roberts will examine what parliamentary buildings tell us about democracy and
national identity in his inaugural professorial lecture next week.
“Some of the world's most famous buildings are parliaments and legislatures. They are often grand and imposing, and they
reflect a nation’s politics. Winston Churchill correctly noted during World War Two, 'we shape our buildings and
afterwards our buildings shape us',” he says.
Professor Roberts, a specialist in comparative politics, has had a growing interest in parliamentary architecture during
his 27 years at Victoria University.
“Our very own Beehive was built because the parliament erected early last century was only half the size of the
parliament designed for New Zealand by the official government architect. The rest of the building was meant to go where
the Beehive is now—there were also grand plans for domes and cupolas that were never built,” he says.
“There are different traditions in the design of parliaments around the world. North American legislatures are very
classical. They draw their ideas from Greek and Roman architecture. What does this tell us about national identity and
their political systems?”
Professor Roberts says he is very keen on visiting and experiencing different parliaments. He has visited parliamentary
buildings in five of the seven continents of the world.
“Victoria University’s inaugural lecture series is an opportunity for new professors to provide family, friends,
colleagues and the wider community an insight into their specialist fields of study. It is also an opportunity for the
University to acknowledge and celebrate our valued professors,” says Vice-Chancellor Professor Pat Walsh.
“Professor Roberts has made an outstanding contribution to Victoria’s political science programme since his arrival in
1981. He is an excellent teacher and researcher and it will be a great honour to celebrate his achievements at his
inaugural professorial lecture,” he says.
Professor Roberts will act as TVNZ’s election commentator in this year’s election for the eighth successive election.
He has also won four New Zealand Electoral Commission Wallace Awards and been involved in an eight-year Foundation for
Research, Science and Technology-funded project analysing the consequences of New Zealand adopting MMP.
His inaugural lecture is on Tuesday 5 August 2008 at 6pm in Lecture Theatre 1 at Rutherford House, Bunny Street,
Wellington. Please RSVP to rsvp[at]vuw.ac.nz with ‘Roberts’ in the subject line. All welcome.
ENDS