Reichstag--page 1 (of two pages)

The original Italian High Renaissance building by Paul Wallot, 1894 The facade has a monumental pedimented entrance and uses the gigantic order, engaged columns extending over two stories, to add to the grandeur. Compact towers bookend the facade. It has two inner courtyards and originally had a central dome. See this wiki media commons engraving of the original.
The original building was seriously damaged during bombings in World War II and later when the dome threatened to collapse, it was demolished. The historic interior was also damaged during the bombings and exterior sculpture was also destroyed. After the fall of the Wall, it was determined that this reconstructed building would be the site of the meetings of the reunified German Bundestag and that the interior would be redesigned and the dome rebuilt.
The pedimented entrance with the inscription "for the German people"; view of the dome from the Moltke Bridge
		The inner and outer porches, now necessary for security
The spacious second floor outer hallway, overlooking the Plenary room and the entrance area below
Looking into the Plenary room from the outer hallway
The Plenary room, the largest in the western world, at 17,216 square feet
The spectacular dome, with a mirrored cone for lighting and ventilating the room

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