The Bundesplatz (literally: the "Federal Square") is the Government Plaza in

Bern german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese , neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen , website ...

, ''de facto'' the capital city of Switzerland. It is situated in the

Old City of Bern The Old City (german: Altstadt) is the medieval city center of Bern, Switzerland. Built on a narrow hill bordered on three sides by the river Aare, its compact layout has remained essentially unchanged since its construction during the twelfth ...

, the medieval city center of Bern. It is part of the Innere Neustadt which was built during the second expansion in 1255 to 1260, though the plaza was not built until much later. It is located in front of the '' Bundeshaus'', the Swiss Parliament Building, and it is part of the

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international coope ...

Cultural

World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...

that encompasses the Old City.

History

The western third of the modern Bundeshausplatz was originally part of the ditch around the second city wall. In 1765, a plaza was built in the area between the ''Ballenhaus'' and the ''Holzwerkhof''. ''Ballenhaus'' was demolished in 1820 to make way for the Casino and was located on the site of the modern east wing of the Parliament at Bundesplatz 15. The ''Holzwerkhof'' was demolished to make way for the Bundeshaus West and was located at Bundesgasse 1.Weber - Holzwerkhof
The new plaza construction was overseen by Niklaus Hebler, who planted Linden trees on the plaza and fenced in the southern side with a

balustrade A baluster is an upright support, often a vertical moulded shaft, square, or lathe-turned form found in stairways, parapets, and other architectural features. In furniture construction it is known as a spindle. Common materials used in its c ...

which overlooked the lower city and

Aare The Aare () or Aar () is a tributary of the High Rhine and the longest river that both rises and ends entirely within Switzerland. Its total length from its source to its junction with the Rhine comprises about , during which distance it descen ...

river. Between 1894 and 1900, the new ''Bundeshaus'' was built, and a number of buildings were demolished which increased the size of the plaza. Until 1909, it was known as ''Parlamentplatz''. For almost a century, the plaza served as a parking lot. Following a national competition in 1991 to decide the future of the plaza, the winning proposal ''Platz als Platz'' designed by Stephan Mundwiler, AIA (the founding principal,

Lee + Mundwiler Architects Lee + Mundwiler Architects (a.k.a. leeMundwiler) is an architectural design studio based in Los Angeles, California and Basel, Switzerland. Made up of founding architects Cara Lee and Stephan Mundwiler, the studio is known for its clean, modern, a ...

, based in Basel and Los Angeles) and Stauffenegger+Stutz, visual design in Basel, Switzerland, began in 2002. The project was finished on 31 July 2004 and officially unveiled on 1 August 2004 during the Swiss National Day celebration. The ''Platz als Platz'' project was recognized in 2006 with the Honor Award for Urban Design by the

American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to s ...

, initiated by the designer, Stephan Mundwiler, Swiss-American architect.

Photos

File:Bundeshausplatz.jpg, The Bundeshausplatz, looking north File:Stop Kriegsmaterial-Exporte GSoA, Einreichung Initiative.jpg, A demonstration, in front of the

Federal Palace of Switzerland The Federal Palace is a building in Bern housing the Swiss Federal Assembly (legislature) and the Federal Council (executive). It is the seat of the government of Switzerland and parliament of the country. The building is a listed symmetric ...

, in support of the federal popular initiative "for a ban on the export of military equipment", in 2007 File:Bundesplatz Kinderspiel.jpg, Fountain File:Zibelemärit bern ch bundeshaus.jpg, Market

References

External links

*
Bundesplatz website
* http://www.aialaarchive.org/about/archives/member_news/nationalawardwinners.html {{DEFAULTSORT:Bundesplatz Squares in Bern Old City (Bern)