A DESIGN consultancy from north Essex has played its part in the build-up to the official opening tomorrow of the new Welsh National Assembly building in Cardiff by HM The Queen.

A DESIGN consultancy from north Essex has played its part in the build-up to the official opening tomorrow of the new Welsh National Assembly building in Cardiff by HM The Queen.

Silk Pearce, based in Colchester, has designed a first day cover being issued by the Royal Mail to mark the occasion, including a unique miniature sheet of Welsh definitive stamps and two special postmarks.

The assembly Senedd building - the opening of which was timed to fall on St David's Day, the most important date in the calendar for Welsh national pride - has already received international recognition for its cutting-edge design and use of sustainable technologies.

The front of the first day cover features an elevation of the new building and a close-up of its six metre tall rotating wind cowl - the largest structure of its kind in the world - which, combined with a glazed lantern roof, is designed to provide passive ventilation and maximum natural daylight into the debating chamber below.

Another main feature of the new complex, its cedar roof lining which follows the contours of six elliptical domes running the length of the new building, is depicted on the border of the miniature stamp sheet, which contains five existing Welsh stamps.

The two specially designed postmarks, for exclusive use on March 1, are based on line drawings of three daffodils - the national flower of Wales - and of the traditional Welsh dragon.

“March 1, 2006, is clearly a landmark day in Welsh history and we are delighted to be taking such an active and public role in the celebrations,” said Peter Silk, joint creative director at Silk Pearce and responsible for leading the consultancy's design team for Royal Mail.

“Royal Mail has been working with us for almost 15 years on a number of commemorative issues and stamp designs and everyone within the team is always thrilled to see our work endorsed in this way.”

Silk Pearce, formed in 1984, has worked on a number of high-profile projects for Royal Mail including designing a set of stamps marking the 150th anniversary of Great Britain's first pillar boxes. The set of five stamps, issued in 2002, featured different styles of pillar boxes from 1857 to 1980.

Other regional, national and international businesses and brands with which it has worked include United Trust Bank, Arjo Wiggins and the Aldeburgh Festival.