Architectuarly this building is a great example of combining modern and classical design. The renovation that took place in the late ninetees, led by Norman Foster, is meant to mirror the transparency of democracy. This is achieved using a giant dome which lets a great deal of natural light into the Bundestag/Houses of Parliament housed below. It is also accessible to the public and can be walked up and down using a staircase that elevates around the sides of the dome. I personally feel it is a fantastic project that is sensitive to the historic building already in place, combining classical and contempary in a very accomplished fashion.
As a sidenote, it is also of interest to mention the work of Christo in the mid ninetees in relation to the Reichstag. He and his wife undertook the gigantic project of wrapping the whole building in material. It took them 24 years to gain permision from the authorities to commence the project and took a great deal of time and effort. However, the resulting iconic imagery gave the German Parliament a great deal of positive press and tourism. Not just a peice of art but a fantastic exercise in PR by the German Government.
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