Asamblea Regional de Murcia

The Regional Assembly of Murcia was initially based in a part of the Casa de la Cultura building in Cartagena. In 1987 a profound transformation of the building occurred, which led to its exclusive parliamentary use and the enlargement of its premises. The project was run by the architect Rafael Braquehais, resulting in a singular building of an eclectic nature to which symbolic elements referring to the features and history of this Region have been added.

Its facade is worth mentioning. It has the sculpture of Ardid, allegorical to the Region of Murcia located in a lodge decorated with profuse tiling and wide glazed areas. The outer part of the building is surrounded by representations alluding to the different cities of the Region of Murcia.

Inside the building the spacious stairway stands out. It is made of white travertine marble, marked by mosaics of tiles with several sealike elements. With these Braquehais tried to evoke the importance of the sea which allowed the historical opening of this Region to the influence of other civilisations. Thus, the dolphin appears as the repeated iconographic motif —the symbol of maritime trade—, as well as the navy-blue colour in the tiling in contrast with the mediterranean radiant white.

The vertical decorations in the lobbies have been covered with stuccos, a technique that comes from the ancient world and was recovered in the neoclassical period during the eighteenth century, and which was profusely used in the constructions of that period, especially religious ones.

The “Patio de los ayuntamientos” lies at the heart of the building, and it is surrounded by the different premises with their balconies. It is covered with a translucent vaulted roof which lets in light and allows the organisation of events in this area —the biggest of the building.

On the first floor we can find the most relevant part of the building —the hemiciclo (the parliament). It has the features of the strict neoclassical standards but with the presence of nature-like elements decorating the pilasters. The seats are located surrounding the pre-eminent location of the speakers' rostrum and the Chairman's table.

As a hall of the parliament we can find the “Patio de las Comarcas”, which is aimed at the people who want to attend the plenary sessions. It is decorated with frescoes alluding to several passages of the history of the region, whose architect was Rafael Braquehais. Within it we can find the portrait gallery of the chairmen of the Regional Assembly.

On the second floor we can find the “Salón del Príncipe”, named after the Príncipe de Asturias when he visited the parliament. It is where protocolary visits are received and it is located next to the Chairman's office.

The headquarters of the regional parliament boasts a modest but interesting collection of pictorical works belonging to artists of the region such as Ramón Alonso Luzzy, Muñoz Barberán, Párraga, Molina Sánchez, Inocencio Medina, etc. We can highlight Jose Lucas' colourist and great works full of symbolism located in the lobbies.

After its inauguration, several interventions have been made in order to adapt the building to the demands and needs of every moment. The last one was the construction of an attached building inaugurated in 2001, where you can find the Consejo de Gobierno, the parliamenry groups and the committees chambers’ premises, which only have a functional purpose. The committees chambers have been named after three distinguished personalities of our culture: Alfonso X El Sabio, Carmen Conde and Narciso Yepes.