The Tintenpalast is the seat of the Namibian parliament since independence in 1990, however, it was always the seat of the legislative. The building was designed and built by Gottlieb Redecker between 1912 and 1913 and was opened as the seat of the German colonial government on 1 November 1913. The name derives from the German word of "Tinte" (meaning "ink") and "Palast" ("palace"), due to the high amounts of ink used. The Parliament Garden is one of the most beautiful and well kept park areas in Windhoek. It was designed only in 1931 and built in 1934.