This dome is located in Berlin, Germany. It is a dome that replaced the old one destroyed in World War II by arsonists. The building had been partially restored, but the dome was not rebuilt till the 90's by Norman Foster. This symbolized the unification of East Germany and West Germany. Their parliaments had met in different buildings, but meeting in this one would symbolize their oneness.
It is entirely different from the previous dome:
The building went under renovation during different decades, but the dome was destroyed.
Norman Foster turned the Reichstag into a renown national landmark with his glass dome. He borrowed the idea from a suggestion (by Gottfried Bohmof ten years earlier) a large glass dome with a walkway.
The dome is accessible to the public, and allows them a view of the Parliament in session. And has two winding ramps leading up to the viewing cupola at the top of the dome. In the center is the cone made of mirrors that provided natural light, lowering the energy usage. The cone has a sun shield that blocks the direct rays of the sun on the mirrors. It is a obvious change from the general Brutalism style of architecture in World War II. All in all, it is a really cool building.
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