The current Reichstag dome is an iconic glass dome constructed on top of the rebuilt Reichstag building in Berlin. It was designed by architect Norman Foster and built to symbolize the reunification of Germany. The distinctive appearance of the dome has made it a prominent landmark in Berlin.

The dome as seen from the ceiling of the Reichstag

The Reichstag dome is a large glass dome with a 360 degree view of the surrounding Berlin cityscape. The debating chamber of the Bundestag, the German parliament, can be seen down below. A mirrored cone in the center of the dome directs sunlight into the building. The dome is open to the public and can be reached by climbing two steel, spiraling ramps that are reminiscent of a double-helix.

The mirrored cone at the center of the Reichstag dome

The glass dome was also designed by Foster to be environmentally friendly. Energy efficient features involving the use of the daylight shining through the mirrored cone were applied, effectively decreasing the carbon emissions of the building.

The futuristic design of the Reichstag dome makes it a unique landmark, and symbolizes Berlin's attempt to move away from a past of Nazism and Communism and instead towards a future with a heavier emphasis on a united, democratic Germany.

Reichstag dome's spiral walkways

It looks distinctly similar to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial dome, a structure that stood out in the landscape after the nuclear bombing, invoking the memory of a Hiroshima devastated by the Atom Bomb. It may therefore be an implicit symbol of the nuclear attack that Germany would have been subjected to if she had not surrendered before the Atom Bomb was available, and that she may yet be subjected to if Nazism ever returns to Germany.

Interior view of the Reichstag dome

With the reunification of Germany and the decision to move the capital from Bonn back to Berlin, it was also decided that the original Reichstag building be rebuilt along with a new dome that emphasized a unified Germany. Architect Norman Foster won a commission to design and rebuild the dome in 1993. Foster originally wanted the dome to be a cylinder, after his original design of a parasol-esque building was rejected due to the unrealistic cost. The design of the dome was at first controversial, but has become accepted as one of Berlin's most important landmarks.

The Reichstag dome at night

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