Bundesplatz

The Federal Court ( French Place fédérale, Italian federale Piazza, Romansh Plazza federala ) is the space in front of the parliament building in the Federal City of Bern, Switzerland.

In the square, state receptions, political rallies and various events are held on Tuesdays and Saturdays is located on the weekly market.

A related to the geometry of the Federal Palace square of 60 × 30 meters from natural stone dominates the square. The 60 × 100 cm wide and 6 cm thick slabs of Vals gneiss are mirror symmetric relocated, so large-scale ornaments arise. By a slightly curved band of light that pervades the place, an optical connection from Bärenplatz is made to the House of Parliament. In the western part of the square is a fountain of 26 water fountains, symbolizing the 26 cantons and half- cantons of the Swiss Confederation.

On the south side of the square are the Parliament buildings and the federal houses, on the eastern side of the main building of the Swiss National Bank, on the west side of the main building of Berner Kantonalbank. On the north side bordered the place to Bärenplatz and other bank and administrative buildings. The Federal lane that Kochergasse, Amthausgasse and Schauplatzgasse be close to the four corners of the square.

History

The federal court was established in 1902 simultaneously with the construction of the parliament building. For the construction of the building and the Federal space, the architect Hans Wilhelm Auer left a casino and other houses tear, which would obstruct the clear view of the Houses of Parliament.

For years, the square served mainly as a parking lot, which the national importance of the place was not fair. In 1991, a national design competition was held, the winning project by Christian Stauffenegger, Ruedi Stutz and Stephan Mundwiler " space as a place " was implemented from 2002 to 2004 and officially opened on 31 July and 1 August 2004.

The project " space as a place " was in 2006 with the price of Honor Award for Urban Design, awarded by the American Institute of Architects Award.