The heart of the Government district is the Reichstag Building, one of Berlin’s most important landmarks and the seat of the German Parliament, the German Bundestag.
It was built between 1884 and 1894 in a grand Neo-Renaissance style. It has witnessed many of the defining events of modern German history, including the Reichstag fire of 1933, World War II, the division of Berlin, and Germany’s reunification. After the reunification, the building was redesigned, and the famous glass dome was added to symbolise transparency in government, after its chequered history with the Nazis. From the top of the dome, you can see the parliamentary chamber below.
The Reichstag building and dome are only one part of Berlin’s larger parliamentary and government district along the River Spree. The modern government complex includes the Paul-Löbe-Haus, where many parliamentary committees meet; the Jakob-Kaiser-Haus, which contains members’ offices; and the Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus, which houses parliamentary services and archives. The three buildings are very different, but all are architecturally stunning. Collectively, they form a vast interconnected campus.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the parliamentary district is the extensive underground tunnel network linking all four buildings. Above ground, you see the glass dome, bridges, and modern government buildings. However, below ground lies a hidden network of pedestrian passages used by politicians. There are also roads, corridors, loading areas, utilities, and secure passageways that allow Germany’s parliament to function smoothly while preserving the openness of the public spaces above.
The government’s awe-inspiring buildings are uncluttered. So much effort has gone into the dome’s design to create transparency, as well as the other Government buildings, after the country’s dark past.