Berlin TV Tower: Construction & Architecture
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The Berlin TV Tower, inaugurated in 1969, is an outstanding example of architecture and engineering. Built by a talented team led by Hermann Henselmann and the state-owned design institute VEB Industrieprojektierung (Ipro) Berlin, the tower is not only an observation tower but also an important broadcasting site. With its striking design and solid base on uneven ground, the TV Tower is a living symbol of Berlin and a fascinating place to experience the city from a bird’s-eye perspective.
Berlin TV Tower: Construction & Architecture of the Berlin TV Tower
The impressive history of the Berlin TV Tower begins in 1965, when work on the foundation started. The monumental structure was finally completed in 1969 and officially inaugurated on 3 October of the same year. At that time, it proudly stood as the second-tallest television tower in the world and was internally referred to as “Fernmeldeturm 32.”
The TV Tower does not only function as an observation tower with a spectacular viewing level including a bar, but also serves as an important site for several broadcasting transmitters that transmit radio and television signals.
The imposing structure was created by a remarkable group of talented minds led by Hermann Henselmann and the architectural team of the state-owned enterprise VEB Industrieprojektierung (Ipro) Berlin. For a period of time, the project was even overseen under the overall direction of Gerhard Kosel, the then President of the German Academy of Architecture.
The Berlin TV Tower is not only a symbol of engineering excellence but also an important architectural heritage site. Its rich history and distinctive appearance have made it one of Berlin’s most beloved landmarks. Today, the tower stands as a living witness to the past and an impressive place to admire the city from a unique perspective.
Facts
Key Facts About the Berlin TV Tower
- Construction period: 1965–1969
- Total height: 368.03 m
- Tower shaft height: 248.78 m
- Top of the shaft: 9 m
- Tower sphere: 32 metres in diameter and more than 17,000 cubic metres in volume
- Weight: approximately 26,000 tons
- Observation platform: 24 m
- Revolving restaurant at 203 metres height
- Cost: approximately 132 million marks
Construction of the Berlin TV Tower
Between 1965 and 1969, the construction of the Berlin TV Tower began without the required building permit. Approval for the project was determined on 9 February 1965 by the Central Committee of the SED, and one day later it was granted by the city magistrate.
Construction began on 20 March 1965 with demolition work across an area of 29,400 square metres to create space for the tower. The enormous costs associated with land acquisition and demolition caused a significant cost increase, which temporarily halted construction. Only after further intervention was the project allowed to continue — still without an official building permit.
The actual construction work started with the foundation on 4 August 1965. The concreting of the tower base began on 15 March 1966, followed by the completion of the hyperboloid shell on 30 March 1966. The tower shaft reached its final height of 248.78 metres on 16 June 1967.
Meanwhile, preparatory work for the tower sphere had already begun, with its completion achieved by November 1967. The assembly of the sphere on the concrete shaft started on 2 January 1968 and was finished in October of the same year.
In October 1968, the tower received its spire and antenna framework, allowing the interior construction to proceed the following year. Despite a substantial cost increase to more than 132 million marks and a delay of ten months, the Berlin TV Tower was completed in October 1969 after 53 months of construction. At that time, it was the second-tallest television tower in the world.
Berlin TV Tower Architecture
The Berlin TV Tower, an iconic landmark of the German capital, stands on a foundation with varying levels between 2.70 and 5.80 metres, with wall thicknesses of 50 centimetres. Compared with other television towers, the foundation of the Berlin TV Tower is relatively shallow.
The foundation, with an outer diameter of 42 metres, consists of a 3-metre-thick ring foundation and an inner square foundation supporting the tower shaft. The shaft structure is a self-supporting steel construction extending up to 230 metres, housing essential facilities such as elevators, supply shafts and an emergency staircase.
The visible base of the tower at ground level has a diameter of 32 metres and is designed in the form of a 20-metre-high hyperbolically tapering truncated cone. Three pavilions serve as entrance areas, restaurants and exhibition spaces.
The most structurally distinctive features are the folded concrete roofs with a 30% inclination and upward-rising sections reaching heights of up to 21 metres. The entrance pavilion leads to a glass transition structure (Skyway) connecting to the elevators and walkways at the tower shaft.
The design of the tower sphere, which forms the upper section of the tower shaft up to a height of 248.78 metres, consists of trapezoidal surfaces that give the sphere its distinctive diamond-patterned structure. The exterior cladding is made of high-quality stainless steel and helps minimise air turbulence.
Inside the tower sphere are several levels, including the observation platform, a restaurant and technical facilities for television and radio transmission.
The antenna mast extends above the sphere and carries more than 150 antennas used for television and radio broadcasting. It is equipped with various safety installations, including snow guards, drainage systems and reinforced exterior sections designed to reduce the risk of falling snow and ice.
The tower sphere also functions as a meteorological observation station for the German Weather Service (Deutscher Wetterdienst).
In terms of safety technology, the tower features several aviation warning lights as well as a sophisticated system for cleaning and maintenance. The construction of the TV Tower required a considerable quantity of building materials, including concrete, steel and structural steel.
Traditionally, the Berlin TV Tower is illuminated with special lighting on certain occasions. In addition, various aviation safety lights are installed along the tower to ensure visibility for aircraft under different weather conditions.