Happy 50th Birthday, Telespargel!
Berlin worldwide-famous television tower was inaugurated on 3rd October, 1969.
Architectural landmark and political symbol of GDR power, the monument overlooks Alexanderplatz and was purpose-built to be visible from almost the whole city.
Clean-cut and chic, the Müggelturm is one of the first examples of Modernist architecture in East Berlin after years of ruling Stalinist Classicism in GDR.
Almost 30 meters high, the tower overlooks the Müggelsee and the surrounding woods from a hillock.
Opened to the public on the 31st of December of 1961 – just a few months after the construction of the infamous Wall – the building was designed by the collective of students of Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee led by architects Jörg Streitparth, Siegfried Wagner and Klaus Weißhaupt.
The façades display panoramic windows at every landing, together with stylish clear concrete geometrical shapes.
A twin tower is planned to be built soon next to the original one.
Slightly crumbly and vaguely ill-kept, the charming Cosmos has surely seen better days.
The state-owned hotel, planned by architects B. Banykin and Irina Kolbayeva, was constructed between 1974 and 1983 during the massive urban redevelopment of the capital following war and earthquake devastation.
In its golden years it was one of the largest and most modern accomodations in Moldavian SSR. Under the blazing starbursts and the neon capital letters on the top floor, swinging angled-shaped balconies form a dynamic concrete pattern overlooking Negruzzi square and Kotovsky equestrian statue.
Although not working anymore on its full capacity, the Cosmos hotel and its former glamour still twinkle like a Soviet modernist gem among post-war architecture in Chișinău.
