 Welcome to the home of the Scottish Parliament here at Holyrood. We're in the main hall where we welcome thousands of visitors every week. Some are here for parliamentary business while others come to learn more about the Scottish Parliament and its work. In 1997 there was a public vote, a referendum here in Scotland in which the people voted to create a new Scottish Parliament with powers over devolved matters such as health and education. The Parliament was created under the Scotland Act 1998 and the first elections of the 129 MSPs, or members of the Scottish Parliament, took place in 1999. The lead architect for the new home of the Scottish Parliament was Enric Miralles from Barcelona. In partnership with Scottish architects RMJM Scotland. Miralles envisaged a building that seemed to emerge from the land. His initial drawing was of a green-leafed tree branch growing out of Holyrood Park to the south of the site, Scotland in miniature with its locks and hills. Many elements of architecture are echoed throughout the building with vaulted ceilings, angled pillars and stepped edging to the sides of windows and stairwells. Many different Scottish building materials are used throughout the Parliament and indeed if you look up you see the flag of Scotland, the cross of St Andrew or the Saltire and a reminder that the building is of and for Scotland and its people.