Casino Royale
#windowwednesday
View down the central funnel inside of the Reichstag dome on top of the Reichstag building, the seat of the German parliament (the Bundestag). The funnel is a so-called "light-diverting element" with mirrors that guides diffuse daylight into the plenary hall of the German Bundestag ten meters below and also serves as an exhaust "pipe" that deflects used air from the plenary hall through the 10-meter-wide central opening at the apex of the dome (which you can't see here).
For whatever reason the checked "pattern" of the reflective windows on the funnel's base (theoretically one could take a look into the plenary hall) always reminds me of a gambling table at a casino, hence the title which I've borrowed from one of the best James Bond movies (and I also like the 1967 parody). But of course, there's nothing "royale" or "gambling-ish" about this profoundly democratic place (which, as you know, it hasn't always been). Surrounding the funnel's base you can find the permanent exhibition "From the Reichstag to the Bundestag" which tells the eventful history of the Reichstag building from its beginnings to the present day.
Happy Window Wednesday, Everyone :)
Casino Royale
#windowwednesday
View down the central funnel inside of the Reichstag dome on top of the Reichstag building, the seat of the German parliament (the Bundestag). The funnel is a so-called "light-diverting element" with mirrors that guides diffuse daylight into the plenary hall of the German Bundestag ten meters below and also serves as an exhaust "pipe" that deflects used air from the plenary hall through the 10-meter-wide central opening at the apex of the dome (which you can't see here).
For whatever reason the checked "pattern" of the reflective windows on the funnel's base (theoretically one could take a look into the plenary hall) always reminds me of a gambling table at a casino, hence the title which I've borrowed from one of the best James Bond movies (and I also like the 1967 parody). But of course, there's nothing "royale" or "gambling-ish" about this profoundly democratic place (which, as you know, it hasn't always been). Surrounding the funnel's base you can find the permanent exhibition "From the Reichstag to the Bundestag" which tells the eventful history of the Reichstag building from its beginnings to the present day.
Happy Window Wednesday, Everyone :)