Wasserwerk Altglienicke, Waterworks and heritage monument in Altglienicke, Berlin, Germany
Wasserwerk Altglienicke is a protected industrial facility in Berlin that once supplied water to multiple neighborhoods. The complex consists of a prominent red brick tower and several operational buildings spread across a large property bordered by railway tracks.
In 1904 Altglienicke, Adlershof and Grünau formed a water supply association and built the works on Am Falkenberg to plans by Düsseldorf architect Heinrich Scheven. Drilling began in spring 1905 and operation started on 1 April 1906; the wells were shut in 1999. The Schirnerstraße tower, used for services from 1912 to 1937 and again 1945–1951, was sold in 1999 and converted into housing from 2021.
The red brick structures display a blend of industrial engineering and decorative details typical of early 20th-century design. Visitors can still observe the craftsmanship in the masonry and architectural elements that give the site its distinctive character.
The site is surrounded by railway tracks, so arriving on foot or by public transportation that approaches from nearby areas works best. The exterior provides the best opportunity to admire the architecture, as interior access is restricted.
The tower's head was demolished in 2005 after the masonry around the water tank was deemed at risk of collapse, and for years afterwards the top was wrapped in white plastic sheeting. From 2021 the tower was converted into housing, with four new storeys built on a plate projecting about 2 m around the remaining shaft.
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