October 24_ Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and Reichstag

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Denkmal Fur Die Ermordenten Juden Europas

Designed by Peter Eisenmann

The students began their first full day in Berlin with a simple yet extremely powerful piece of architecture the location was chosen because it sat in the heart of Berlin’s parliament and government district, to express the memorial’s place in the city’s history. The memorial is located near the Brandenburg Gate and built between 2003 and 2005. The design is considered radical in the realm of memorial design partly because the architect did not use any symbolism. 2,711 concrete stalae are laid out in a grid pattern and entered through all sides. This leaves it up to the visitors to find their own way in and out of the complex.

German Parliamentary Building, Reichstag

Original Design by Paul Wallot, Renovated by Sir Norman Foster

The Reichstag is probably one of the most recognizable and symbolic building in Berlin. The structure was erected by Paul Wallot in 1884-1894 as a proud manifestation of the German Reich. In 1933 it was destroyed in a catastrophic even called the Reichstag Fire. It was not just catastrophic because it destroyed the building, but it might have been started by the Nazi’s themselves, as an pretext to get something called the “Enabling Act” passed through congress.  The Reichstag is also the location in which Soviet soldiers would fly their flag over Berlin to symbolize the end of the WWII. Today, people can still see graffiti of Soviet soldiers still on the walls of the Reichstag. In 1996, artist Christo wrapped the building up in white fabric. And 1994-1999, British Architect, Sir Norman Foster transformed it into one of the most modern Parliamentary buildings in the world. On top of the structure is an extraordinary dome, also Sir Norman Foster, which provides panoramic views of Berlin. The students were able to climb the dome up a ramp that lines the dome.