The design for the new German Bundestag Visitor and Information Centre (BIZ) responds to the increased security requirements in public buildings with an open statement: it is conceived as a walk-in spatial sculpture – a structure that belongs to the Reichstag building as a monument and at the same time creates a lively relationship with its visitors.
The architectural sculpture is created by the inner form of the building, which develops into an open spiral in the centre. It winds its way in a continuous surface with a slight incline across all levels from top to bottom.
The spiral thus describes a three-dimensional figure that represents the continuous path that visitors can walk at different speeds. There are no spatial thresholds; the inclusion of all visitors is paramount. The building is designed to be barrier-free.
The spiral structure of the BIZ building relates spatially, structurally and iconographically to the accessible glass dome of the Reichstag building: they enter into a dialogue with each other as negative and positive forms.
After visitors are welcomed behind the security gate in the foyer, the spiral offers flowing ascending and descending paths.
Sensibly arranged programme areas are surrounded by movement areas: the ascending path includes a café, seminar and recreation rooms, and a roof terrace with a view of the Reichstag building and Tiergarten park.
The descending path leads past the plenary hall through the communication forum, past a film screening room to the underpass that connects the BIZ with the Reichstag building.
Competition:
Specialist planners:
Knippers Helbig GmbH, Stuttgart (Structural design)
hhpberlin, Munich (Fire proofing)
Schüller Landschaftsarchitekten, Munich (Landscape design)
Mathhes Max Modellbau GmbH, Munich (Model making)
Visualization:
Bloomimages, Hamburg
