The hum of machinery a ghost of the past. This is the Philips-Apparatefabrik in Berlin. Right here stood a testament to post-war resilience. This impressive structure wasn’t just a factory. It was a symbol of Berlin’s industrial rebirth.
The Philips-Apparatefabrik opened in 1956. It rose from the rubble of a city scarred by war. The Deutsche Philips GmbH had been founded in Berlin in 1926. After the devastation of World War II its main administration moved to Hamburg. However production resumed in 1948 in Berlin-Charlottenburg. Radios were made there. By 1953 record players tape recorders and shavers were also manufactured. This new factory in Ullsteinstrasse 73 replaced the Charlottenburg location.
The Philips-Apparatefabrik was a marvel of modern design. Architect Herbert Noth combined a multi-story office building with large production halls. These halls featured Zeiss-Dywidag shell sheds. This architectural style was replicated in other Berlin factories. The Philips-Apparatefabrik was the oldest example. It remained largely intact with only minor expansions in 1960-61.
The main factory hall was incredibly flexible. It could be divided into smaller sections to meet changing production needs. A two-story structure housed offices and support areas. The hall’s design was four-aisled. Curved pillars supported the sheds. The shed’s steel shell was 6.5 cm thick. The office building was constructed using a steel skeleton. The five-story structure connected to the production area but remained separate.
Access to the factory was from the east. It went past a glass gatehouse. Loading ramps were located at the rear. An east-side boiler room housed a transformer station. A single-story canteen building opened onto a garden. The canteen’s kitchen was part of the administration building. A large warehouse with a two-story office extension was added in 1960. The main hall was expanded southward in 1961. The office building gained two extra floors. These additions incorporated elements already designed into the original construction.
The Philips-Apparatefabrik was a showcase of functionality and adaptability. Its design ensured optimal lighting ventilation and noise control. It prioritized worker well-being with excellent social areas. The canteen building required a unique solution for lighting. Its northern exposure and shading from the main hall led to a sawtooth roof design. Luxfer prisms in the roof improved light distribution. The interior featured representative spaces. The administrative building’s entrance hall had a striking freestanding staircase and extensive glazing. The canteen offered a pleasant and well-designed space. The construction company Dyckerhoff & Widmann built the factory. They were responsible for the shell structure of the main production hall.
The Philips-Apparatefabrik stands as a testament to industrial innovation. It represents West Berlin’s post-war economic recovery. The factory epitomizes the rise of consumer goods manufacturing in the 1950s. This focus was largely on the electrical industry. Production ceased in Berlin in 1993. This marked the end of an era. The Philips-Apparatefabrik remains a reminder of a time when Berlin’s industry thrived.