NEW REICHSTAG BUILDING IN BERLIN SYMBOLIZES THAT THE
PEOPLE ARE ABOVE THE GOVERNMENT
By Forrest W. Schultz
Several weeks ago on a television program narrated by Rick Steves he conducted one of his tours in Berlin which, as always, was well done and very informative -- in fact this one was SUPER informative because it involved his walking inside the Dome above the new Reichstag building which symbolizes (among other things) the all important fact that "the people are above the government". As you walk there you LOOK DOWN upon the Reichstag, which is interesting because this is the concept found in words like "supervisor" and"overseer". This was very striking and you really need to see it to appreciate it. Contrast this with America, the home of democracy (??), where the Congressional Building sits up on a hill and we look up to it .
Here is the opening of the article about this found at this website: openbuildings.com/buildings/reichstag-dome-profile-19971. :
PEOPLE ARE ABOVE THE GOVERNMENT
By Forrest W. Schultz
Several weeks ago on a television program narrated by Rick Steves he conducted one of his tours in Berlin which, as always, was well done and very informative -- in fact this one was SUPER informative because it involved his walking inside the Dome above the new Reichstag building which symbolizes (among other things) the all important fact that "the people are above the government". As you walk there you LOOK DOWN upon the Reichstag, which is interesting because this is the concept found in words like "supervisor" and"overseer". This was very striking and you really need to see it to appreciate it. Contrast this with America, the home of democracy (??), where the Congressional Building sits up on a hill and we look up to it .
Here is the opening of the article about this found at this website: openbuildings.com/buildings/reichstag-dome-profile-19971. :
The current Reichstag Dome is a 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.
Design
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, and so that visitors can see the working of the chamber. 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 Dome symbolizes that the people are above the government, as was not the case during national socialism. …….
Design
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, and so that visitors can see the working of the chamber. 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 Dome symbolizes that the people are above the government, as was not the case during national socialism. …….
openbuildings.com/buildings/reichstag-dome-profile-19971
