Building European democracy

You can tell a lot about a political system from the buildings it erects to house its decision-makers. They provide a literally concrete expression of the collective self-image of the politicians inside.

For example, the British House of Commons meets in a 19th century mock gothic palace that only recently gave each MP an office and still can't fit all of them in the chamber at the same time. It is hopelessly inadequate for a modern democracy.

On the other hand, the US Congress m...