“With this building we seem to have succeeded in proving once again that it is possible to design a technical necessity in an aesthetic form that gives pleasure to people as well as being of service to them.” – Fritz Leonhardt
Stuttgart, Germany is home to one of the most iconic structures in the world – the Stuttgart Television Tower. On this day, February 5th, 2023, the tower turns 67 years old and continues to be a beloved symbol of the city. Standing tall at 217 meters (712 feet), it has been offering breathtaking views of the city, the vineyards of the Neckar Valley, the Swabian countryside and beyond since it was first opened to the public in 1956.
The tower’s history goes back to the early 1950s, when the city decided to build a structure that would allow for better television reception. At the time, television was still a relatively new technology, and television broadcasting officially resumed in Germany on December 25, 1952, after the end of World War II. Many people were interested in getting a set, especially after the televised coronation of Britain’s Queen Elisabeth II and with the World Football Championship in Switzerland coming up. But Stuttgart did not have a television transmitter at the time and reception was mediocre.
Stuttgart’s tower was designed by the civil engineer Fritz Leonhardt and architect Erwin Heinle. Fritz Leonhardt was responsible for the design and structural draft of the tower that is now considered an aesthetic and architectural masterpiece. He used a ring foundation with a core diameter of 27 meters (88.5 feet) and high-strength steel tendons to reduce sway and keep the foundation stable. The tower consists of two conical shells and a circular-cylindrical pod with rounded edges to reduce wind resistance. The bottom floor contains technical equipment, while the two upper levels are visitor decks with a café and bar, the Panorama Café at 147 meters (482 feet). The top level has an observation platform. The transmitter mast is a square lattice mast painted red and white for visibility and weighs 48 tons. In 1965, the height of the mast was increased by 3.8 meters (12.5 feet) to improve television reception in the city. Although the tower is made out of reinforced concrete and weighs in at a massive 4,500 tons, Fritz Leonhardt aimed to make the structure graceful and he did not want a massive base to ruin the elegance of the design. Therefore, he concealed the broad foundation under ground level so that the shaft seems to grow directly out of the ground – like a tree. The tower’s sleek, modern design is a testament to the innovative thinking of the creators.
The Stuttgart Tower became world’s very first television tower. Afterwards, cities all over the world started building towers to improve their signals too, and the tower became a prototype that was imitated and refined all over the world – from Frankfurt to Johannesburg and Wuhan in China. The tower’s construction was completed in just 20 months (unfortunately not in time for the World Football Championship in 1954), and it was officially opened to the public on February 5th, 1956. It quickly became one of the most popular attractions in the city, attracting thousands of visitors every year. The observation deck, which sits at a height of 150 meters (492 feet), offers stunning views of Stuttgart and the surrounding countryside, as far as the Black Forest and the Odenwald. The tower features a special children’s observation deck at 153 meters (502 feet), as Fritz Leonhardt wanted children to be able to enjoy the view without being lifted. During construction, he realized that the concrete balustrade on the viewing platform would obstruct the view of children, thus he added a second tier secured by metal bars to the viewing platform.
Over the years, the tower has undergone several renovations and improvements, including a replacement of its outer skin in 2005. The Stuttgart Television Tower is no longer used for television transmission due to the outdated technology. However, the tower is still used for radio transmission and has undergone several upgrades to its technology and equipment.
In conclusion, the Stuttgart Television Tower is more than just a tower. It is a symbol of the city’s history, innovation, and beauty. On this day, as we celebrate its 67th birthday, we reflect on all that it has to offer, and all that it continues to mean to the people of Stuttgart and beyond.