Telefunken-Hochhaus

Gazing upon the Telefunken-Hochhaus, one might feel a touch of New York right here in Berlin. This architectural marvel, once known as the “Haus der Elektrizität” (House of Electricity), was designed by Paul Schwebes and Hans Schoszberger. It was completed in 1960 as the headquarters for Telefunken. The Telefunken-Hochhaus was inspired by the Pan Am Building in New York, although its 22 stories are dwarfed by the American skyscraper’s 59. Yet, until the Europa-Center was finished in 1965, the Telefunken-Hochhaus proudly held the title of Berlin’s tallest building. The story of Telefunken begins in 1903. Kaiser Wilhelm II pushed for its creation amidst patent disputes between AEG and Siemens & Halske. The result was the Gesellschaft für drahtlose Telegraphie mbH, System Telefunken, jointly owned by AEG and Siemens. Telefunken thrived in the 1950s, particularly in communications and data technology. The Telefunken-Hochhaus embodies this modern, cosmopolitan spirit. In 1967, Telefunken merged with its parent company to become AEG-Telefunken. The headquarters moved to Frankfurt am Main just eight years later. The Berlin Senate purchased the Telefunken-Hochhaus in 1975. They provided it to the Technical University of Berlin. Today, it houses parts of the TU Berlin and the Telekom Innovation Laboratories. The Telefunken-Hochhaus’s steel and concrete frame supports a striking facade of exposed concrete. Notice the vertical concrete supports that taper upwards. These give the building a unique profile. Look closely at the windowless side. You will see the words “Technische Universität.” This replaced the original “Telefunken” sign. The large, showcase-like windows of the ground and first floors create an inviting entrance. This is sheltered by a large protruding roof. The green-black glass mosaics that adorn the window breasts add a touch of elegance. Today, the Telefunken-Hochhaus stands as a testament to Berlin’s evolving history. It represents the city’s embrace of innovation and technology.