Generaltelegrafenamt, Telegraph administration building in Mitte, Germany
The Generaltelegrafenamt is a multi-part building complex in central Berlin spanning several addresses along Jägerstraße and Oberwallstraße. The structure features sandstone facades and Italian High Renaissance architectural elements, with cast iron beams and glass ceiling sections that shape its interior spaces.
Built between 1861 and 1863, the complex served as Berlin's main telegraph switching center managing communications across the German territories. After 1945 it lost its original purpose and was later adapted to house telecommunications administration offices.
The building represents the evolution of German telecommunications, with its apparatus hall showcasing cast iron beams supporting a glass ceiling from 1878.
The complex sits in the heart of Berlin and is easily accessible on foot through the surrounding streets. Following extensive renovations after reunification, parts of the site are open to visitors, though some sections remain in use as administrative offices.
Hidden within the building is an apparatus hall from 1878 featuring a striking ceiling system of cast iron beams supporting expansive glass panels. This engineering solution was specifically designed to provide clear light and open sightlines for operators managing thousands of simultaneous telegraph connections.
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