This already is the English Version Cliquez ici pour la version française Klicken Sie hier für die deutsche Version
International Database and Gallery of Structures Structures Large-scale Projects Persons Firms & Offices Products Geographical Index Publications Links
Structures / Reichstag
Browse by:
Name
Structural type
Function
Construction method
Geographic location
Year of completion

Recently added
Recently modified
Recently illustrated

Structurae web

Data submission
About Structurae
Advertising on Structurae
Imprint
Contact Structurae
Acknowledgements
Photos used on Structurae
About this data sheet:
Structure-ID: s0000601
Created on: 01/21/00
Modified on: 07/26/05


Reichstag

Built: 1884 - 1894
Status: in use
Address: Platz der Republik
Location: Mitte, Berlin, Germany
Reichstag
Click on the image to enlarge it.
There is a total of 103 images.
Structural Type:
Dome

Persons involved with this structure
Legend: Phase of works
RoleNamePart of structure 
Engineer Mathias Koenen
Initial construction (1884-1894)
Architect Paul Wallot
Reconstruction (1961-1972)
Architect Paul G. R. Baumgarten
Reconfiguration (1995-1999)
Architect Lord Norman Robert Foster
Checking engineer W. Stucke

Firms, offices, etc. involved with this structure
Legend: Phase of works
RoleNamePart of structure 
Reconfiguration (1995-1999)
Owner Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Architecture Foster and Partners
Structural engineering Leonhardt, Andrä und Partner
Consulting engineers Amstein + Walthert AG
  fischer energie + haustechnik consult Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH
  Kuehn Bauer Partner
  PKA Planungsgesellschaft Karnasch mbH
Contractor Klaus Rogge Spezialtiefbau GmbH
Co-contractor Götz GmbH dome
Steel construction Waagner Biro AG dome
Concrete construction Ed. Züblin AG
Glass construction BGT Bischoff Glastechnik
Project controlling Bundesbaugesellschaft Berlin mbH
Building physics Müller-BBM GmbH
Fire safety engineering Brandschutz Planung Klingsch GmbH
Lighting BEGA Gantenbrink-Leuchten KG
Specialist consultant Jappsen & Stangler elevators
Room book Assmann Beraten + Planen GmbH

Technical information
DescriptionValue
Construction materials used
dome  steel
Dimensions
Initial construction
dome   height to tip of dome 75 m
Reconfiguration
  gross floor space 61 166 m2
dome   diameter 40 m
  height 23.5 m
  height to observation deck 59 m
  height to platform 40.7 m
  glazed surface 3 000 m2
  height to tip of dome 47 m
plenary hall   height 25 m
  seats 669
  gross floor space ca. 1 200 m2
Quantities used in construction
dome   structural steel 800 t

Chronology
1 July 1884
Emperor Wilhelm I. lays the first stone.
5 December 1894
The final stone is laid by Emperor Wilhelm II.
End of 1916
After the emperor quits opposing it the inscription "Dem Deutschen Volke" (for the German People) is added to the building.
9 November 1918, 14:00
The social-democrat delegate Philipp Scheidemann proclaims the first democratic and parlamentary republic of the unified Germany.
1920
After the constitution of the Weimar Republic the parliament returns to capital Berlin for regular sessions.
27 February 1933
The building burns out after being set on fire. Dutchman Marinus van der Lubbe is arrested for the arson.
28 February 1933
Adolf Hitler gets President Hindenburg to pass the "Reichstagsbrand-Verordnung" which abolishes most political rights in the Republic.
23 March 1933
Forced to have its sessions in the nearby Kroll Opera building, the Reichstag takes away its own powers, transfers them to Adolf Hitler and becomes a show parliament for the Führer and the Third Reich without any political weight.
2 May 1945
Soviet troops capture the building.
1955
The Bundestag decides to have the building reconstructed.
13 June 1961
The construction of the Berlin wall shows that the building is right at the border to East Berlin.
3 September 1971
The "Vier-Mächte-Abkommen" comes into force and changes the status of West-Berlin and also prohibits plenary sessions of the Bundestag in the soon-to-be-reconstructed Reichstag.
1972
Reconstruction of the building is completed based on plans by Paul Baumgarten. It serves until 1994 as space for an historical exhibit called "Questions on German History".
1995- 1999
Renovation of the building and reconstruction of the dome in a new form.
June 1995
The building is wrapped by Christo.
April 1999
The Bundestag inaugurates the building in a ceremonial session.
23 May 1999
The Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung) constituted by the Bundestag and representatives of the states elects the new president of the Federal Republic in the building.
September 1999
The Bundestag's move from Bonn to Berlin is complete.

Relevant Web Sites
The following external links open in a new window. Structurae is not responsible for their content nor endorses it.
External LinkarchINFORM: Bundestag der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (ehem. Reichstag) English German French Spanish Italian
External LinkarchINFORM: Reichstag English German French Spanish Italian
External LinkBEGA: Der Reichstag in Berlin German
External LinkChristopher Pavel: Reichstag English
External LinkDas Reichstagarchiv / The Reichstag-archive German English
External LinkDeutscher Bundestag German

Relevant Literature
* Die innere Kuppel des Reichstagsgebäudes, in "Hot & Cool", 2002, n. 1 v. 2 .
* Reichstag Berlin (2nd edition), Stadtwandel Verlag, Berlin (Germany) , ISBN 3933743184, 2002.
* Umbau des Reichtagsgebäudes zum Deutschen Bundestag in Berlin / Conversion of Reichstag Building into German Bundestag in Berlin, in "Detail - Zeitschrift für Architektur + Baudetail", 1999, n. 3 v. 39 .
* Umbau des Reichtagsgebäudes zum Deutschen Bundestag in Berlin / Conversion of Reichstag Building into German Bundestag in Berlin, in "Detail - Zeitschrift für Architektur + Baudetail", December 2000, n. 8 v. 40 .
* Andrä, H.-P.   Renewing the Reichstag, in "Structural Engineering International", November 1997, n. 4 v. 7 .
* Borgelt, Christiane   Architekturführer Bundesbauten Berlin (3rd edition), Stadtwandel Verlag, Berlin (Germany) , ISBN 3933743427, 2003; pp. 6-9.
* Cullen, Michael S.   Der Reichstag, bebra.verlag, Berlin (Germany) , ISBN 3930863650, 1999; pp. 291-330.
* Feurich, Dieter   Engineering the Reichstag sign, in "The Arup Journal", March 1999, n. 3 v. 34 .
* Fink, Roland   Die neue Kuppel auf dem Reichstagsgebäude, in "Stahlbau", July 1999, n. 7 v. 68 .
* Fink, Roland   Stahlbetonkonstruktionen im erneuerten Reichstagsgebäude in Berlin, in "Detail - Zeitschrift für Architektur + Baudetail", 1997, n. 8 v. 37 .
* Fink, Roland   Der Umbau des Reichstagsgebäudes zum Sitz des Deutschen Bundestag in Berlin - Tragwerksplanung, in "Bautechnik", May 1999, n. 5 v. 76 .
* Fink, Roland   Der Umbau des Reichstagsgebäudes zum Sitz des Deutschen Bundestags in Berlin - Tragwerksplanung, in "Bautechnik", June 1999, n. 6 v. 76 .
* Kuehn, Michael   Umbau des Reichstagsgebäudes zum Deutschen Bundestag in Berlin - Parlamentssitz mit ökologischer Signalwirkung, in "Detail - Zeitschrift für Architektur + Baudetail", 1999, n. 3 v. 39 .
* Roller, M. M.   The Reichstag's New Dome, in "Structural Engineering International", November 1997, n. 4 v. 7 .
* Sabbah, Catherine   Horizons architecture / Architectural Horizons, Editions Le Moniteur, Paris (France) , ISBN 2281191478, 2001.
* Steffens, Klaus   Experimentelle Tragsicherheitsbewertung am Reichstagsgebäude in Berlin, in "Bautechnik", July 1997, n. 7 v. 74 .
* Werner, Heike   Architektur und Geschichte in Deutschland, Heike Werner Verlag, Munich (Germany) , ISBN 3980947114, 2006; pp. 158-159.
* Wörner, Martin   Architekturführer Berlin, Dietrich Reimer Verlag, Berlin (Germany) ; pp. 144.

 
Correct, change or add
data to this page.
Suggest a relevant
web page to this page.
Suggest a relevant
publication to this page.
A product of
Nicolas Janberg ICS
INTERNET CONTENT SERVICES
© 1998-2010 Nicolas Janberg ICS. All rights reserved.
Use of Structurae graphics is prohibited without prior approval.
Version 5.2
AddThis Social Bookmark Button
Structurae on Facebook