Is this green-coloured dome with a small tower something you recognize? You might have seen this shape or material somewhere. Is it a castle in Austria or a church in Italy? It could have been, but this is located at one of the most important Swiss buildings. It is the roof of the Parliament building in Bern, Switzerland.
The parliament building was officially opened on April 1st, 1902. Hans Wilhelm Auer (1847-1906) was definitely there, he was the architect. He won the competition to design the building. His intention was to represent the entire country in this parliament building. To achieve his goal, he assigned a central role to building and decorative stones. More than 30 types of stone from 13 different cantons were used in the building’s construction. Artists from all over Switzerland came to offer their works of art.
At the beginning of the 20th century, neo-Renaissance, or historicism, was very popular. One of the key features of historic architecture is that architects prefer to use styles from the past. At the parliament building, we see a lot of artistic decor that is based on the history, the constitution, and the cultural diversity of the country. The building’s design reinforces the national monument status of the parliament building in Switzerland.
Do you want to see this building, its facade, and its interior now that you know this? You can see it virtually, but the best way to get to know it is to book a tour in Bern.
I spy with my historical eye 