“A lighthouse in Berlin?” a child’s voice chirped. The BEHALA-Turm indeed resembles a lighthouse, standing proudly amidst the sprawling Westhafen. The BEHALA-Turm, part of the Westhafen administration building, serves as a landmark for ships navigating Berlin’s largest inland port. Its slender form, topped with a viewing gallery, lantern, and pyramid roof, evokes images of both lighthouses and town hall towers. The Westhafen, meaning “West Harbor,” opened in 1923 alongside its operating company, BEHALA (Berliner Hafen- und Lagerhaus AG). The BEHALA-Turm and its surrounding buildings quickly became essential for Berlin’s burgeoning industry. The port’s 430,000 square meters, divided into two harbor basins, connect to the Spree and Havel rivers through the Westhafen Canal and the Berlin-Spandau Shipping Canal. This network integrates the Westhafen into a larger waterway system, linking the Elbe and Oder rivers. The BEHALA-Turm witnessed the Westhafen’s rise as a crucial transhipment point. Its strategic location, with access to rail lines, freight yards, the A 100 city highway, and public transport, made it a logistical hub. The BEHALA-Turm’s distinct architecture, made from purplish-brown bricks with iron oxide content, stands as a testament to its historical significance. While the port and the BEHALA-Turm continue their operations, some warehouses have found new purposes. The granary, for example, now houses part of the Staatsbibliothek Preußischer Kulturbesitz, demonstrating the BEHALA-Turm’s continued relevance in modern Berlin. Its presence reminds us of a time when Berlin’s industrial might was growing, shaping the city’s landscape and leaving behind a unique architectural gem in the form of the BEHALA-Turm.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to