Funkturm Berlin, Communication tower in Westend, Berlin, Germany.
Funkturm Berlin is a steel structure in Westend, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, rising 146.78 meters on a square base measuring 20 meters on each side. The construction consists of lattice framework with continuous vertical structure that tapers upward, creating a slender, recognizable form.
Heinrich Straumer designed the tower, built from 1924 and opened on 3 September 1926 for the third Great German Radio Exhibition. From 1929 it carried television tests, and on 22 March 1935 the world's first regular television programme was broadcast from its aerial. In 1945 a projectile destroyed one leg at 38 metres; it was repaired with 7.2 tonnes of steel. Regular broadcasting ended in 1973.
Berliners call the tower »der lange Lulatsch« (»the lanky lad«). Since 1989 it has carried only amateur, land mobile and emergency services radio, not broadcast radio or television. The restaurant and viewing platform are run by Capital Catering, a subsidiary of Messe Berlin.
An observation platform awaits visitors at 125 meters (410 feet), while a restaurant sits at 52 meters (171 feet), both accessible by elevator. The site lies near the exhibition grounds and is easy to reach on foot or by public transport.
The entire steel structure rests on porcelain insulators manufactured by the Royal Prussian Porcelain Factory. This technical solution appears in only a few structures worldwide and was originally intended to ensure electrical insulation.
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