Das Reichstagsgebäude

Construction of the Reichstagbuilding was started in 1871 and completed in 1894. The building was originally designed to hold the german parliment, referred to as the Reichstag. In 1933 the building mysteriously started on fire and the reichstag was desolved. The third reich took over control as the country geared up for the second world war. The building was never repaired, and after the bombing of berlin in 1945 in layed in ruins. It wasn't rebuilt until 1961, and then was only used for some ocassional meetings. Finally in 1991 the german parliment, now called the Bundestag, came back to the Reichstagbuilding. In the mid 90s the building was gutted and an entire new infrastructure was built. A new dome was also placed upon the top of the Reichstag. This dome gives people the oppertunity to look down into the hall of parliment and also get a great view of Berlin.

The pediment and columns of this neoclassical building have an impressive stance against the windows. The window panes are very wide and are not disturbed by frames as in the original building. This openness really makes the columns pop out against the blue hue of the laminated glass. The glass gives the building a modern touch, and some insight to the new look of the interior, while not compromising the integrity of the old design.