FEDERAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING, BONN

It was one of the most distinctive and at the same time most controversial buildings in the Bonn Republic. The “parliamentary candle”, “parliamentarian office machine” or even “federal skyscraper” were what contemporaries called the 33-storey tower on the banks of the Rhine, while its critics simply ranted about the “colossus on the Rhine”. But the architect also had a contradictory relationship to his building, which was constructed on difficult terrain and under complicated conditions. It demonstrated, however, that Egon Eiermann was justly regarded as one of the greatest architects of post-war West Germany: Externally he covered the enormous dimensions of the “Assembly building of the German Bundestag” with a second facade (a feature typical of Eiermann); on the interior he furnished the building consistently to suit his conception, right down to the waste bins.

This month Egon Eiermann’s “Langer Eugen” will be re-dedicated after five years of restoration. And we at Berker are also somewhat proud of this. Because Eiermann chose the “Berker Modul” for his building, a switch just as clear and functional as the federal assembly building itself. Today, in this true to original renovation, the “Berker K.1” was used: a switch as cool and consistent as the original.

We are celebrated all of this with a new issue of “Berker Blueprint” dedicated to Egon Eiermann and his “Langer Eugen”. Please celebrate with us – and order your free copy of “Berker Blueprint 03”. You can also download photographs of “Langer Eugen” and other “Blueprint” motifs as a screensaver.

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