Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
closed to public;
100,
Bundestag)
Germany's 'White House', the Federal Chancellery is a sparkling, modern compound de-
signed by Axel Schultes and Charlotte Frank and consisting of two parallel office blocks
flanking a central white cube. Eduardo Chillida's rusted-steel
Berlin
sculpture graces the
eastern forecourt. The best views of the entire building are from the Moltkebrücke (bridge)
or the northern Spree River promenade.
BUILDING
PAUL-LÖBE-HAUS
The glass-and-concrete Paul-Löbe-Haus houses offices for the Bundestag's parliamentary
committees. It's filled with modern art that can be viewed during guided tours (in German)
at 2pm on Saturday and Sunday. Advance online registration (
www.bundestag.de
) is re-
quired.
From above, the imposing building looks like a double-sided comb, while the central atri-
um on the inside could double as a bowling alley for giants. A double footbridge links it to
the Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus across the Spree in a visual symbol of reunification.
BUILDING
MARIE-ELISABETH-LÜDERS-HAUS
galleries 11am-5pm Tue-Sun;
Bundestag, Hauptbahnhof)
Home to the parliamentary library, this recently expanded, extravagant structure has a
massive tapered stairway, a flat roofline jutting out like a springboard and giant circular
windows. In the basement is an art installation by Ben Wagin featuring original segments of
the Wall.
Accessible from the Luisenstrasse entrance is the Kunst-Raum, which presents politically
infused contemporary art.
MEMORIAL
WALL MEMORIAL 'PARLAMENT DER BÄUME'
24hr; Bundestag)
Started by Ben Wagin in 1990, this art installation commemorates those who died at the
Berlin Wall. Standing near the original border strip, it consists not only of trees but also of
pieces of the border fortification, memorial stones, pictures and text. The names of 258 vic-
tims are inscribed on slabs of granite.
