RIAS-Funkhaus

“A building with a curved corner, how intriguing,” a young voice chirped. The RIAS-Funkhaus, with its unique curved facade, stands before you, a silent witness to a turbulent past. Originally built for the Bayerische Stickstoffwerke AG between 1938 and 1941, the RIAS-Funkhaus’s story took a dramatic turn after World War II. The building, designed by architect Walter Borchard, showcases the New Objectivity style. Its five-story structure, built upon an angular foundation, features a light-colored, unadorned facade. The square windows, framed with natural stone, grace the first four floors. Elongated rectangular windows punctuate the top floor. The Nazis seized the building when they broke up the I.G. Farben conglomerate after the war. The Bayerische Stickstoffwerke AG, closely tied to I.G. Farben, had been a key supplier to the German armaments industry. In 1948, the RIAS-Funkhaus found its voice. The American occupation broadcaster, RIAS Berlin, moved in, transforming the former office space into a hub of information and entertainment. The RIAS-Funkhaus became a symbol of freedom during the Cold War. Its broadcasts reached beyond the Iron Curtain. Its location near Schöneberg Town Hall reinforced its role in the ideological battle between East and West. Modern steel skeleton construction meant easy adaptation for broadcasting. Chemical labs became studios. An assembly hall transformed into the grand broadcasting hall where Hans Rosenthal and storyteller “Onkel Tobias” entertained audiences. Studios, sound equipment, and control rooms filled the third and fourth floors, while editorial offices and administration occupied the remaining levels. Interestingly, the first furniture for the RIAS-Funkhaus arrived by ship from the USA. The historical Studio 5 remains preserved from those early days. Between 1964 and 1974, a four-story annex was added. This addition housed a large music studio, further enhancing the RIAS-Funkhaus’s capabilities. By 1984, the building boasted eleven studios. The RIAS-Funkhaus broadcasted until 1993. In 1995, the building and its rooftop RIAS logo received landmark status. Today, the RIAS-Funkhaus remains a vital part of Berlin’s media landscape. It is home to Deutschlandfunk Kultur, continuing its legacy of broadcasting excellence.