Comparison Between Reichstag and British Museum

¶ … Historic Buildings

The British Museum and the Reichstag in Berlin have many similarities. Both of these historic buildings have undergone facelifts recently, and Lord Norman Foster and Partners Architects created both of these facelifts. Both of the buildings feature domes or cupolas, and both have modern elements Foster created to blend naturally with their historic natures. Both of the buildings have features that draw the viewers' eye to the top or apex of the buildings. The British Museum has a domed reading room and a steel-lattice roof that soars over an open courtyard. The Reichstag has a refurbished dome in the center of the building over the Great Court.

The two buildings are both ornate and opulent in their architectural style, but the British Museum is much older, and has had more additions and refurbishing than the Reichstag. The British Museum was first housed in a mansion, and opened for the public in 1759, while the Reichstag was not opened for business until 1894. The Reichstag also underwent severe restoration because of bombing during World War II and a fire in 1933. The Reichstag opened again in 1999 to house Germany's version of Parliament, the Bundestag. Interestingly, both buildings are also open to the public free of charge.

Both buildings have been remodeled using structural, composite steel and concrete for strength and longevity. It is interesting that both the Great Court of the British Museum and the Reichstag's cupola both weigh approximately 800 tones, but they appear fragile and airy. Both structures are meant to be viewed from underneath, and offer spaces for visitors to look straight up through the structures to the sky above. Architect Foster also created environmental controls for both buildings, but made each of the controls unique in many ways. For example, the Reichstag's cupola includes a natural chimney that takes advantage of hot air rising -- it expels the hot air from the tip of the cupola. The Great Court uses exhaust fans to mechanically vent hot air, and includes a system to heat or cool water to maintain an even and comfortable temperature. Each building is unique, but each building also shows Lord Foster's creativity and design excellence.