The Fernsehturm Stuttgart (TV Tower Stuttgart) is the world's first TV tower built from concrete (and prototype for many towers of that kind all over the world).

Fernsehturm Stuttgart

It is located on the so-called "Hohen Bopser" hill in the Stuttgart district of Degerloch. After a construction period of 20 months it was taken into service on February 5, 1956, by Süddeutscher Rundfunk (today: Südwestrundfunk – SWR). The tower broadcasts several FM radio stations as well as Germany's ARD TV network. Although the tower was controversial at first, it quickly became a well-known landmark of Stuttgart and a tourist attraction. From the two observation decks there is a beautiful view of Stuttgart, from the forests and vinyards in and around Stuttgart to the Swabian Jura and the Black Forest. On clear days, even the Swiss Alps can be seen.

• Architect: Professor Dr. Ing. Fritz Leonhardt
• Geographical Coordinates:
• Altitude: Foot of the tower 483 m ue.d.M.
• Overall height up to the antenna point: 216.8 meters
• Height of the upper prospect platform: 153.5 meters
• Height of the lower prospect platform: 150 meters
• Diameter of the foundation: 27 meters
• Total weight of the tower: approximately 3000 tons
• Weight of the foundation: approximately 1500 tons
• Driving speed of the elevators: 4 m per second
• Panorama Café on a platform of the tower basket
• Maximum diameter of the tower basket: 15 meters

The tower can be reached by the Stuttgart public transport system (see Stuttgart external links) and is open for visitors from 9:00 until 23:00.

History

• 10.1.1954: Start of construction
• 5.2.1956: Inauguration
• October 1965 until December 1965: Extension of antenna, hence today the tower is 216.8 meters tall.

Other Transmission Towers in Stuttgart (not accessible to public)

• Fernmeldeturm Frauenkopf (height: 192.4 m)
• Tripod of Stuttgart-Vaihingen (height: 98.6 m)
• Funkturm Stuttgart (height: 93 m)
• Directional Radio Tower Stuttgart-Möhringen (height: 93 m)
• Technoturm (height: 47 m)

Similar towers

A TV tower similar in design to the TV Tower Stuttgart is Sentech Tower in Johannesburg.

External links

• TV tower Stuttgart
• http://www.structurae.de/de/structures/data/str00071.php

Literature

[1] TV tower Stuttgart, TV tower operating GmbH, Stuttgart, 1991

[2] Professor Dr.-Ingenieur Walther Drechsel, tower structures, Wiesbaden, Berlin, 1967

[3] Schlaich, Joerg and Matthias Schueller civil engineering leader Baden-Wuerttemberg, building publishing house, Berlin (Germany), 1999; Page 486-488.