The photograph, collaged by Michael de Vreugd, is a dramatic representation of Berlin’s story of war and peace. The collage merged 2 photographs taken in the same location, Reichstag, that are more than 70 years apart. One photograph depicted the horrors of World War ll, while the other captured the present, daily life. As the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words”, this photograph not only narrates the revolutionary story of Berlin’s past and present, but also the destruction, preservation, and restoration of the Reichstag building.
The Reichstag housed the German Empire parliament. The term reflects the historic set of the German’s governing and legislative bodies. Though it has been associated with the Weimar Republic and the …show more content…
Consequently, Reichstag was disused and put out of business. Hitler accused communists for the incident; as a result, he enforced emergency powers and claimed near-complete authority, which lasted until Germany’s fall in World War ll and his death in 1945 (Tobias, 1964). Reichstag was heavily wrecked by World War ll battles that caused more damage to the building due to air raids and allied bombs (Flippo, n.d.). The photograph captured the wreckage and chaos of that period a soldier sitting on a 88m gun, with the ruins of the building lying behind him. Soviet’s army came within gunfire range of Reichstag. The German army underwent battles till the very last man in Reichstag’s cellars. By the year 1945, Reichstag was left in ruins after six years of war. It wasn’t until 1955 that the German Bundestag decided not to tear down the building, but to preserve and restore it (Tobias, …show more content…
Its transformation was grounded on 4 matters: Reichstag’s significance as a symbol of democracy, an understanding of history, a commitment to accessibility, and an effective environmental program. Reichstag’s scars, stonemason’s marks, and soviet graffiti on the roof and walls were preserved as part of a living museum. The heavy shell of the building was contrasted with the lightness and transparency that was brought with the construction of the glass dome, which became a symbol of rebirth (Foster Partners, n.d.).
Over the past 100 years, Reichstag’s formal role and architecture have dramatically undergone changes. Today, Reichstag incorporates elements of the past while embracing the elements of the present. The stone, glass, and steel of the Reichstag unfolds the story of Berlin and its fight for democracy. “For the People” slogan, on the façade of the building, has survived a 100 years, staying true to its meaning to this day (Markus and Cameron,
The Reichstag housed the German Empire parliament. The term reflects the historic set of the German’s governing and legislative bodies. Though it has been associated with the Weimar Republic and the …show more content…
Consequently, Reichstag was disused and put out of business. Hitler accused communists for the incident; as a result, he enforced emergency powers and claimed near-complete authority, which lasted until Germany’s fall in World War ll and his death in 1945 (Tobias, 1964). Reichstag was heavily wrecked by World War ll battles that caused more damage to the building due to air raids and allied bombs (Flippo, n.d.). The photograph captured the wreckage and chaos of that period a soldier sitting on a 88m gun, with the ruins of the building lying behind him. Soviet’s army came within gunfire range of Reichstag. The German army underwent battles till the very last man in Reichstag’s cellars. By the year 1945, Reichstag was left in ruins after six years of war. It wasn’t until 1955 that the German Bundestag decided not to tear down the building, but to preserve and restore it (Tobias, …show more content…
Its transformation was grounded on 4 matters: Reichstag’s significance as a symbol of democracy, an understanding of history, a commitment to accessibility, and an effective environmental program. Reichstag’s scars, stonemason’s marks, and soviet graffiti on the roof and walls were preserved as part of a living museum. The heavy shell of the building was contrasted with the lightness and transparency that was brought with the construction of the glass dome, which became a symbol of rebirth (Foster Partners, n.d.).
Over the past 100 years, Reichstag’s formal role and architecture have dramatically undergone changes. Today, Reichstag incorporates elements of the past while embracing the elements of the present. The stone, glass, and steel of the Reichstag unfolds the story of Berlin and its fight for democracy. “For the People” slogan, on the façade of the building, has survived a 100 years, staying true to its meaning to this day (Markus and Cameron,