Imagine a giant telescope lying on its side. That is how the Gasometer Schöneberg once worked.
Welcome to the EUREF-Campus home to the iconic Gasometer Schöneberg. This area pulses with history and innovation. Let us dive into the story of this Berlin landmark.
The Schöneberg gasworks began operations in 1871. Leonard George Drory oversaw the construction. It was the third gasworks of the Imperial Continental Gas Association. This English enterprise had agreed with Schöneberg in 1854 to provide street lighting.
By 1889, the gasworks needed more space. A major modernization and expansion project began. Alfred Messel designed the listed clinker buildings during this time. These buildings stand as testaments to Berlin’s architectural heritage.
During World War I, the English owners faced expropriation. In 1940, GASAG, the Berlin gas enterprise, took over the Schöneberg gasworks. This marked a shift in ownership and operations.
The Gasometer Schöneberg itself was built between 1908 and 1910. BAMAG, the Berlin-Anhaltische Maschinenbau AG, constructed it. By 1913, it was operational. It became one of Europe’s largest gas containers. It could store 160,000 cubic meters of gas. This gas powered homes and streetlights.
The Gasometer is a low-pressure gas container of the telescopic type. The city gas was stored in an extendable bell. This bell comprised several telescoping steel elements. These elements were known as water tanks. They were placed in a water basin. The iron framework stands 78 meters tall.
The artist Leopold Thieme drew the Gasometer in 1918. The artwork makes the tank seem overwhelming. Passersby look small and intimidated. Thieme’s work conveys the plant as a threatening vision of the future.
In 2007, an investor purchased the Schöneberg gasworks premises. The area is now known as EUREF-Campus. EUREF stands for European Energy Forum. The goal is to transform the 5.5-hectare area into a model for the energy revolution.
The EUREF-Campus has achieved the German government’s 2050 climate targets for CO2 emissions.
Numerous companies and research institutes have made their homes here. This includes the Technical University EUREF-Campus. Here, research concentrates on urban and energy issues. The largest electric filling station in Germany is also located here.
The Gasometer Schöneberg remains a symbol of Berlin’s past. It now represents the city’s commitment to a sustainable future. The blend of historical architecture and modern energy technology makes this location unique. It shows how Berlin embraces change while honoring its past.