This is the
central hall viewed from the east. If we turn round 180 degrees, we
can see the Spree and the Marie-Elisabeth Lüders House on the
other side of the river. The pedestrian bridge links the two
buildings and symbolises the reunification of East and West. Along
this area was where the wall used to run and during the Cold War
boats were made to wait here so that anyone attempting to flee East
Berlin by clinging to the hull would have to come up for air. In
front of the window to the right is a bust of Paul Löbe
(President of the Reichstag from 1924 to 1932). As on the west
façade, wide stairways on both sides go all the way up to the
top floor.