Berlin’s Reichstag and Kaiser House face costly repairs after decades of neglect

A quarter-century of oversight now haunts Germany’s parliament. From corroded pipes to lingering odors, the Reichstag’s flaws reveal a costly legacy of rushed design.

, and Administrator

2026 January 9 . 5:03 PM

1 min read

This is a picture of a building with windows and pipes.

Nouripour Complains About Smell in Bundestag - Berlin’s Reichstag and Kaiser House face costly repairs after decades of neglect

Berlin has served as the home of the German Bundestag for a quarter of a century. Yet behind the scenes, serious structural problems have emerged in the Reichstag and neighbouring Kaiser House. Foul smells and corrosion in drainage systems now demand urgent attention.

The issues stem from construction choices made decades ago. Too much focus was placed on visual appeal, while long-term durability took a back seat. One major flaw lies in the drainage system, where horizontally installed SML pipes have led to corrosion and persistent odours.

Bundestag Vice President Omid Nouripour has publicly criticised the pipe installation method. The contractor responsible for fitting these systems—a specialised plumbing firm—remains unnamed in public records. Though leaks in the roofs were addressed, doubts remain about how long those repairs will hold. The scale of the problem is vast. Over the next 20 years, two-thirds of the Bundestag’s buildings will require refurbishment. The costs and logistics of such extensive work are now under scrutiny.

The Reichstag and Kaiser House face years of disruption as renovations unfold. Poor initial planning has left the Bundestag with a legacy of avoidable faults. Without intervention, the problems—from drainage failures to structural weaknesses—will only worsen over time.