Dome

Dome interior, angled rib bracing; A glass dome constructed on top of the rebuilt Reichstag building (1894) in Berlin, built to symbolize the reunification of Germany. It has 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--symbolizing that the people are above the government. 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 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. Foster was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 1999 for his work on the building, which has become one of the top tourist destinations in Berlin. Source: Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page (accessed 5/8/2011)