Berliner Eispalast, Sports complex in Schöneberg, Germany
The Berliner Eispalast was a sports building in Schöneberg featuring a 2000 square meter ice rink and seating for around 4500 people in its main hall. The artificial ice surface was maintained by special cooling systems from the Borsig company, which set up a dedicated ice factory to operate them.
Designed by architect Walter Hentschel, the building opened on August 31, 1908, and suffered severe damage from bombing raids in 1943 during World War II. The wartime destruction ended its role as a Berlin entertainment venue.
The building shifted from an ice sports venue to a variety theater called Scala in 1920, reflecting Berlin's changing entertainment preferences. This transition shows how performance spaces adapted to new audience interests.
The site was located at Lutherstrasse 20-24 and was accessible by public transport, as was typical for a major entertainment venue. Visitors should know that the historic building no longer stands and survives today only as an architectural memory in the neighborhood.
During World War I, the halls were used to store meat reserves and help supply the city. This unusual wartime use shows how Berlin's buildings were repurposed for entirely different functions during times of crisis.
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