Sony Center, Potsdamer Platz, Berlin, Germany

Related people

Eric Haddenham (was created by)
Murphy/Jahn Inc. (architect)
Helmut Jahn (architect)

Date

1996-2000

Description

"The complex of buildings comprises the Sony European headquarters, offices, luxurious penthouse apartments, the Filmhaus with the German Mediathek, a multiplex cinema and other premises for entertainment, retail outlets and restaurants. The land plot is almost 27,000 square-meters in size. ... For the roof, a special construction was developed which consists of steel cables and spokes and has the same structure as a spoke bicycle wheel. At its tip and where it joins the surrounding buildings, this roof is open, thus providing natural lighting for this large forum. The architectural language of the individual buildings, both externally and internally, is a functional mix which is particularly adapted to the fact that the building's principal is involved in the media sector." --Kieren, M. (1998). New Architecture Berlin 1990-2000. Berlin: Jovis Verlagsburo. pp.22-23. This image was taken in 2001 by John P. Schooley, FAIA, during the 'Berlin: Building the New City' tour. This tour was planned for architects and planners so that they could see first-hand how this once-divided city emerged from the Cold War to become a leading commercial and cultural center in Europe. Keywords: urban, renewal, Germany, complexes, high-rise, multistory buildings, daylighting. Submitted by John Schooley, FAIA.

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