de en
Ralf Roletschek/Wikimedia Commons1
Foster + Partners2
Foster + Partners3

Reichstag Building, Seat of the German Bundestag, Berlin, Germany

Object Type
Townhalls & Congress

Client
Federal Republic of Germany
represented by the Bundesbaugesellschaft Berlin mbH

Architects
Foster + Partners, London

Completion
1998

Expertises
Thermal Insulation & Energy Performance Calculation
Building Acoustics
Room Acoustics
Electronic Room Acoustics
Audiovisual System Design

When on June 20, 1991, the German Bundestag decided to transfer its seat to Berlin, this meant that the Reichstag completed by architect Paul Wallot in 1894 had to undergo an extensive conversion. Except for slabs and load-bearing walls, the historical building was completely gutted. Another story was included, now housing the rooms of the parliamentary groups and the large press lobby. The most important and symbolic room, the new plenary hall, is located at the building‘s center under the glass dome.

The plenary hall of the German Bundestag has the dimensions of a church. In order to create ideal conditions for speech supported by sound reinforcement, all acoustically relevant components were tested and optimized by means of laboratory measurements, computer simulatons as well as prototype constructions – even the Federal Eagle has an acoustical effect. In cooperation with the engineering office Knothe & Plenge, Müller-BBM effected the planning, fine-tuning as well as the final acceptance testing of the electro-acoustic sound reinforcement system specifically designed for the hall. The accessible glass dome now is one of Berlin‘s most popular tourist attractions. Elaborate acoustical measures make it possible for guests to walk on the dome – without any disturbing effect on the politicians in the rooms of their respective
parliamentary groups or in the plenary hall, all of them located below the dome.

Image Copyright
1 Ralf Roletschek/Wikimedia Commons
2 Foster + Partners
3 Foster + Partners

Similar Projects