What are the Reichstag's Identities?
- After the unification of Germany, an icon or landmark was needed to symbolise the coming together of East and West Germany, this icon or symbol was the Reichstag.
- It is an icon or symbol of unification of Germany for a variety of factors:
- The Reichstag allows the public back into the process of parlimentary deliberation.
- The parlimentaries can see the people they are representing, there is very much a visual connection between the public and the politicians.
- At night the Cupola on the top of the Reichstag becomes a beacon signalling the strength of the German Democratic process.
- The Reichstag is seen as a living museum of German history which has and still is soaking up Germany's history and will continue to play a large role in the future of the nation.
- However as the critics say, is the Reichstag a symbol of unification or is it simply an iconic piece of architecture, designed more as self advertising for Norman Foster as a leader of modern iconic architecture or is it a beautifully crafted building with the idea of reminding people of the nation's turbulent history, the fragility of democracy and the historic moment when the nation was united after so many years apart.
The Shaping of the Reichstag and it's users