Renewing the Reichstag

The Reichstag, the former and future home of the German parliament, has figured prominently in Germany's history over the last hundred years and is regarded today as a memorial, a symbol and a monument. The building was severely damaged by fire in 1933 and was heavily damaged by shelling during the final weeks of World War Two in 1945. In 1973, a renovation designed by Paul Baumgarten, who had won the competition in 1961, dramatically interfered with the remaining structure. The alteration reflected the state of architectural sensitivities in the 1960s, i.e., it evidenced little respect for the existing structure. The current design attempts to recover as much as possible of the original structure, while it significantly increases the size of the main assembly room.