CASE STUDIES

INTRODUCTION
The Reichstag is a landmark that reflects Germany's history. Built in the 19th century
for the purpose of seating Germany's parliament, it suffered the course of time,
being mutilated by war and insensitive rebuilding.Having been hated and almost
forgotten for four decades, the Reichstag lost it's status of separation and instead
became a place where reunification would be conceived, thanks to the removal of
its immediate neighbour – The Berlin Wall.

Thereafter, public attention toward the building grew, more so after Christo and Jeanne-Claude's
wrapping/unwrapping of the Reichstag. Stirring interest and emotion, the decision was taken to
transform the building, once again into a symbol of importance, that being to reseat the most important
institute in German history – the German Parliament. Today, the Reichstag is seen as having shaped
Germany's history, and is now a living museum of German history.

CONTEXT
Following the decision to relocate the federal capital from Bonn to Berlin, were initiated various projects
for the construction of new buildings to house the headquarters of the main institutions of the country's
work was more emblematic of the complete remodeling inside story building, the Reichstag (Parliament
German) as well as the restoration of its facade and the construction of a dome with a new modern
design, markedly different from the original.
It is one of the main symbols of the new Berlin, capable of communicating in a single glance, that
communion between past and present that makes the German capital today to a laboratory for
architecture and a true and proper exposure to opencast the dome Reichstag is the result of the
ingenuity of Norman Foster, winner in 1993, the international convened with the aim of rebuilding the
structure demolished in 1954.
While the dome had been completely destroyed, the walls of the Reichstag had remained standing but
heavily damaged. Intervention by the London architect, responsible for providing new functionality to the
entire structure, has been based on a number of points that can be summarized thus: transparency,
respect for history and protection of the environment.

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SITE

The building is located in the historic center of Berlin near the Brandenburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz and Tiergarten.

CONCEPT
 The principle has been inspiring, in fact, do more publicly accessible government action; of here,
the choice of creating a single entry for the public and politicians, and predispose, on the first
floor, a wall Glass, with direct view to the halls of parliament.
 Along with the relationship with the existing building, Foster has chosen to retain some traces of
the past, that emerged during the demolition work and leave visible the relationship between new
and old, respecting the installation of the original structure.
 Completely different from the previous shift is in the new dome, a futuristic structure of glass and
steel, inside which two tranches helical lead to an observation area, right in line with the Plenary
Hall.
SPACES
 The building has a main hall, 30 meters high, transparent and functional. From the Republic
Square can see the west gate of the building. This is the entrance for visitors, that if they're not
registered, they come directly to the terrace offering a panoramic view over the surrounding
buildings and access to the dome.
 After the glass walls of the hall is located west from where you can see the floor.
 Nearby, on the north side were erected three buildings complementary, completing what is known
as the parliamentary complex.

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Architect’s Intentions
Norman Foster’s approach to the Reichstag’s redesign was sensitive; however pushing the boundaries
for a trend setting public building was always the core of his plan. His concept revolved around four key
issues. These are his interpretations of them:
• Parliament: To understand the institute and it’s inner workings.
• History: How new should meet old? How scars can record its troubled past and how once
revealed could be preserved as a living museum for future generations.
• Economics: How much will it cost? How can we reduce the running cost and ensure value for
money in the long term?
• Ecology: Environmental control, invest in alternative sources of energy to reduce reliance on
fossil fuels.

OBJECTIVES
• To ‘lighten’ the spirit of the old heavy Reichstag building.
• To reveal and preserve inscriptions and graffiti on the walls, as they play a key role in
depicting the history of the building.
• To make the building accessible to the public.
• To transform the Reichstag into an energy efficient building, thereby demonstrating the
potential for a completely sustainable, basically non-polluting public building, by adopting new
forms of energy supply.

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REDESIGN
“The Reichstag eschews wasteful technologies and relies on alternative techniques for energy
production. In its vision of a public architecture which redresses the ecological balance, providing
energy rather than consuming it, lies one of its most intrinsic expressions of optimism.” – Norman
Foster.

 Transformation process: began with removal of the insensitive 1960s intervention while attention
was paid to preserving the buildings 19th century structure and inscription.
 Avoidance in use of fossil fuels and reliance on use of natural and alternative sources of energy
for lighting ventilation and heating.
 Main feature of the design is the dome , which is known as the cupola. Cupola plays a key role in
the building’s day lighting and energy efficiency strategies. The cupola which is constructed using
modern technology and material , is symbolic of lightening and signifies the renewal of the old
Reichstag
 Extra heat is stored as water in an aquifer 300m below ground level . this water can be pumped
up and used for heating or to drive an absorptive cooling plant to produce chilled water.
 New service installation rely on refined vegetable oil, a renewable biofuel from plants that when
burned in a cogenerator produce electricity.
 Daylight , solar power and natural ventilation facilitate lighting , hot water supply and control the
warmth in winter and cooling in summer.
 The reichstag’s energy efficiceny system have reduced the buildings green house gas emission (
carbon dioxide) by a substantial 94 % from 7000 tonnes to 400 tonnes
 Lighting is used to enhance the building’s nighttime image. High intensity lamps light up the cupola.
On special occasion and german holidays . additional lighting is used to create stricking
appearances .
 Entire roof of the building is demarcated as public space. Restaurants and viewing terraces form
part of this space, which leads to the cupola where a spiral walkway leads to the highest viewing
platform.
 The top floor of the building , specifically around the chamber is also demarcated as public space.
From here, members of the public are free to watch the proceedings of their parliament below.
This is possible through glass panels that form the bottom of the cupola. This bears testimony to

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Norman Foster’s concept of ‘lightening’ the spirit of the building, as well as making the inscription
on the Reichstag’s west portal – Dem Deucschen Volke (To the German People) a reality.
• The external facades were restored to their original finish.
• New elements were added to these facades in the form of aluminium fenestration and
glass balustrades. These subtly depict how the new meets old and how the ‘lightweight’ of the new
comes through the ‘heaviness’ of the old.

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STRUCTURE

Supported by 12 columns of reinforced concrete, the structure has a diameter of 40 meters, a height of 23.5 meters and a
total weight of 1,200 tons. The trunk of cone, which makes "light sculpture" has a lower base of 2.5 meters, while the top
measured 16 meters. This endowed, in addition, a mobile screen that moves to prevent the penetration of heat and direct
sunlight.
The dome
Upon entering one has the impression of being in a winter garden,
whose effects of light and transparency are exacerbated by the
inverted cone that lies at its center and is completely covered by 360
mirrors inclined.

By day the mirrors reflect the natural light, illuminating the Plenary
Hall, at night, however, there is a reverse process: always thanks to
the mirrors, the artificial light of the Chamber is reflected externally,
illuminating the dome. The latter becomes, therefore, in a sort of torch,
which can be watching you know if parliament is in session.

The dome also plays an important role in the ventilation system, as it

draws hot air upward, while the fans recycle energy from the waste
air. The dome is therefore not only a distinctive element of the
architectural composition, but also an important device of power and
lighting.

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SUSTAINABLE DESIGN APPRAOCH

 Building should demonstrate the potentials of a sustainable

, non polluting building.
 Ventilation should combine minimum heat loss and power
usage while creating an excellent interior climate.
 The building is mechanically ventilated through glass dome.
 The building combines several sustainable energy
resources colling and heating is accounted through
geothermal heating/ cooling. A vegetable oil plant
provides for electricity. In detail , the elements of which the
climate system is comprised are
1. Geothermal heating warm aquiver
2. Heat and power plant
3. Heating
4. Cool aquifier
5. Combined heat and power plant
6. Refined vegetable oil plant
7. Electrical power.

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Design conclusions deducted from the study

• Being faced with depleting natural resources and increased levels of pollution, the opportunity exists
to utilise today’s advanced technology to design energy efficient buildings by finding new methods
of power supply, indoor climate control, and waste disposal just to name a few.
• The cupola, built using modern materials and technology, signifies the renewal of the old, the
lightening of the old heavy building, and ties the new in with the old.
• The use of lighting plays an important role in assisting to identify and strengthen the appearance
of the building as a landmark at night.
• External facades should be restored to their original finish. This demonstrates sensitivity and respect
toward the building.
• Modern materials and elements can be added to the facades to subtly depict the new coming
through the old.
• Unlike maintaining the external facades of the building, the possibility to redesign the interior exists.
One can intervene using modern technology to contrast the old existing structure.
• Any additions to the building should preferably contrast the original design in terms of form and
aesthetics. This illustrates architectures transformation over time, as well as a complementary gesture
towards the old building.
• The buildings original footprint should be reinstated, specifically if previous interventions disrupted
the original fabric.
• Any historical aspects of the building should be retained and preserved for future generations
to observe. This conforms to being sensitive and having respect for the building and it’s past.
• The building’s purposeful function and revival assisted in initiating urban renewal in the area,
creating spin-offs for further development.

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Conclusion
The Reichstag proved to be a highly successful project on it’s completion. The building’s popularity as a
tourist attraction has increased tremendously. Not only are the tourists impressed by it’s redesign, but the
German Parliament as well, and are extremely grateful for their new healthy working environment.

It’s architecture of power has been transformed by an architecture of freedom, thereby symbolizing
Germany’s vision of a democratic society. The Reichstag’s redesign has a lot of potential, and is now
precedent for reuse of existing buildings in future. Sir Norman Foster should be proud of this
achievement.

In the words of Wolfgang Thierse, president of the German Bundestag: “Norman Foster has successfully
connected old and new, past and present so that the new interiors of the Reichstag meet our
expectations of this epic building, but at the same time welcoming rather than forbidding. His concept of
integrating a new dome and parliamentary chamber into the historic shell has created a powerful
synthesis, which reflects architecturally the building’s history, it’s present and future. Not only has Norman
Foster made history visible: he has also created democracy. We owe him our gratitude for his
excellent work” (Foster, 2000).

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