Ever wondered where the sound of East Germany was born? This is the Funkhaus Berlin. It is a legendary complex with a rich history. Today we will explore its fascinating past.
Funkhaus Berlin has lived many lifetimes. It was once a plywood factory. Then it became a DDR radio broadcast center. Now it is a high-end recording studio and concert venue. The complex is sprawling and stunning. Its four main buildings sit neatly beside the Spree. They are located in Berlin’s Oberschöneweide district.
In 1951, Berlin had a radio broadcasting center. It was called Haus des Rundfunks. It was in the British sector of West Berlin. The DDR needed its own broadcasting location. They chose an old plywood factory in Köpenick. Architect Franz Ehrlich designed a modern broadcasting complex. He used the factory’s concrete skeleton.
Ehrlich was a Bauhaus student and a Communist. The Nazis arrested him in 1935. He was sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. There he designed the camp’s entrance gates during his forced labor. After the war, Ehrlich continued architecture work in the DDR. Funkhaus Berlin is one of his most artful works.
During the 1950s, about 3,500 people worked here. All nationwide radio stations broadcast from these grounds. There were five stations in total. Each had its own structure and programming.
Funkhaus Berlin was known for its information broadcasts. These were on Radio DDR I and II. There was also Berliner Rundfunk and Deutschlandsender. Deutschlandsender was also known as the ‘Voice of the DDR’. Funny fragments of this era can still be found. A trap door with gravel lies beneath. A staircase leads to nowhere. A studio has stone, wood and carpeted steps. All these were used to create sound effects for radio dramas.
Wolfhard Besser worked at Funkhaus Berlin. He started as an editorial assistant in 1961. He stayed until 1991. He said Funkhaus was created when radio broadcasting was number one worldwide.
The recording quality was very high. Later new technologies raised the bar. Today such large-scale facilities are not needed. Yet Funkhaus remains an important part of German cultural heritage.
After the Wall fell Germany reunified. Berlin was oversaturated with radio programs. The complex slowly became obsolete. Funkhaus cost a lot of money to maintain. Christian Block is Funkhaus’ events and communications manager. He said construction cost over two billion Deutschmarks. Working costs added another six billion.
Saal 1 is the largest purpose-built recording studio in the world. Abbey Road Studios claimed to be the largest. But Funkhaus Berlin is much bigger. The architect team focused on perfect acoustics. The design is very cool. You would never find an architect to build something like this today.
The larger studios have special features. They are trapezoid-shaped rooms to deter echo. Reflecting panels help musicians hear themselves. A suspended ceiling suppresses low frequencies. Every studio benefits from house-in-house construction. This provides acoustic isolation. Even airplanes flying overhead could not be heard from Saal 1.
Block A now hosts studios and offices for creative companies. Some rooms are so protected that nothing has been changed. The table in one conference room dates back to the 1950s. The chairs are from the 1960s. The Foyer in Block B has marble flooring taken from the Chancellory. This was done by the Russians after World War II. The Foyer has also featured in films.
Today Funkhaus Berlin is a protected building. Everyone involved keeps the love of music and sound alive. This Haus continues to give acoustic excellence a home in Berlin.