Reichstag Building

The Reichstag Building on Platz der Republik in Berlin has been the official seat of the German Bundestag since 1999. One of Germany's most important national symbols, it attracts almost three million visitors a year, making it the most visited parliament building in the world. In addition to the regular sessions of parliament, the Federal Convention, which elects the German president, has also met here since 1994. The building, commonly known simply as the Reichstag, stands in the Tiergarten district on the left bank of the Spree and is a defining feature of Berlin's cityscape.

The history of the building begins with the search for a worthy home for the Reichstag of the newly founded German Empire. After the founding of the empire in 1871, the existing makeshift quarters had become too small, which led to an international architectural competition. The first design, by Ludwig Bohnstedt, failed, however, because the owner of the intended site, Count Raczyński, refused to give his consent. Only after his death and the sale of the palace to the Prussian state could the site on Königsplatz, today's Platz der Republik, be secured.

In 1882, Paul Wallot of Frankfurt am Main won a new competition that was open only to German architects. The planning was marked by lengthy disputes with various authorities, who demanded numerous changes to the designs. The foundation stone was finally laid on June 9, 1884, in a ceremony attended by Emperor Wilhelm I. The building was constructed in the Neo-Renaissance style, with Wallot combining forms of the Italian High Renaissance with elements of German Renaissance and Neo-Baroque architecture.

A technical masterpiece of the building was its original dome. After initial difficulties with the load-bearing capacity of the walls, the engineer Hermann Zimmermann developed an innovative steel-and-glass construction. This so-called Zimmermann Dome was one of the first of its kind and supplied the plenary chamber with natural light. It was regarded as a symbol of the innovative power of German structural engineers. Emperor Wilhelm II, however, disliked the building and the dome, seeing it as a symbol of the ambitions of a parliament he did not care for.

The interior was highly modern for its time. The building had its own power plant, central heating, electric ventilators, and a pneumatic tube system for the archive. The rooms were paneled in a historicist style with valuable woods such as oak, ash, and tropical hardwoods. The large assembly hall and the ceremonial areas were adorned with elaborate carvings, allegorical figures, and stained-glass windows by the Frankfurt glass painter Alexander Linnemann. Despite this splendor, there was soon a shortage of adequate workspace for the growing number of delegates, a problem that was never fully resolved before the end of the Weimar Republic.

The political significance of the building changed dramatically in the 20th century. After the Reichstag fire of 1933, which the Nazis exploited to suspend fundamental democratic rights, the building was used mainly for propaganda exhibitions during the dictatorship. In World War II, it was converted into an air-raid shelter and field hospital. During the Battle of Berlin in 1945, the building was fiercely contested and finally taken by Soviet troops. The raising of the Soviet flag on the roof became an iconic image of the end of the war.

During the division of Germany, the damaged building stood in the British Sector, while the Berlin Wall ran directly along its eastern side. In 1954, Soviet specialists blew up the historic dome. The reconstruction in the 1960s and '70s under the architect Paul Baumgarten was carried out in a modernist style. Many historic decorative elements were removed, and the interior was redesigned for functionality. During the division, the building was used mainly for exhibitions and special events, since the Bundestag met in Bonn.

After reunification, the Bundestag decided in 1991 to move its seat to Berlin and to use the Reichstag Building as a parliament house once again. An international competition for the renovation was announced in 1993 and won by the British architect Norman Foster. His design called for combining the historic building with a modern, transparent roof. A central point of debate was the design of the dome. Foster initially rejected a symbolic dome but ultimately had to accept a design based on an idea by Gottfried Böhm.

The new glass dome, completed in 1999, is open to visitors and symbolizes openness and democratic participation. It is now the building's landmark and offers visitors a 360-degree view over Berlin. Foster's renovation respected the historic fabric by uncovering and integrating many original components. Some of the graffiti left by Soviet soldiers in 1945 was also preserved and can be seen today. The new plenary chamber was built at the center of the building and is lit by daylight from the dome via a system of mirrors.

Before the renovation was completed, a remarkable art project took place in 1995: the artist couple Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped the entire building in shimmering silver fabric. This project, which went down in history as "Wrapped Reichstag," drew five million visitors and made the building known around the world. It underscored the significance of the site as a meeting place for art and politics.

Today the Reichstag Building is a place where past and present merge. Visitors can tour the historic architecture, climb the modern dome, and look out over the Spree and the Tiergarten. The building stands for Germany's democratic development and its overcoming of a difficult past. It is not only the workplace of the members of parliament but also an open house that offers insight into the work of parliament and, as a cultural and historical site, plays a central role in Berlin's city life.