Planning for Dresden television tower completed

Dresden's television tower will once again offer visitors a bird's eye view of the city's beauty. The design planning for the revitalization of the building has been completed, announced the client Deutsche Funkturm GmbH. The television tower was closed to the public in mid-1991 - now it is to be restored for this purpose.

The client also announced that the project could enter the next phase. The corresponding funding application will be submitted by the end of the year. Half of the estimated costs totaling 25.6 million euros are to come from the federal government. The state of Saxony and the city of Dresden will cover the rest in equal shares.

Reopening conceivable in 2030

Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) and Dresden's Lord Mayor Dirk Hilbert (FDP) took the opportunity to experience a sunrise on the platform of the 252-metre-high structure - even if the sun immediately disappeared behind clouds again. "Many people in Dresden associate the TV tower with memories of childhood, family and home. Its reopening is a matter close to our city's heart," emphasized Kretschmer. With the design planning, the decisive step is now being taken to secure the funding.

With the design planning, the realization of a long-cherished wish of many Dresdeners is coming a step closer, explained city leader Hilbert. "The television tower is more than just a landmark - it is a place where the city's history meets individual memories and brings joy to the future." Hilbert did not want to specify when exactly the first visitors will be able to climb the tower again in regular operation. However, he considers the year 2030 to be conceivable.

Shape reminiscent of a champagne glass

The Dresden TV tower was opened on October 7, 1969 - the 20th birthday of the GDR. Its technical commissioning took place a few weeks earlier. According to legend, the television tower architects Kurt Nowotny, Herrmann Rühle and Johannes Braune were inspired by a champagne glass when designing the tower. The tower had a restaurant at a height of 145 meters and an open viewing platform above. Two elevators took visitors up to this height in around 25 seconds. On average, 200,000 visitors came to the tower every year.

Since Dresden is located in a valley, a transmission tower is essential for television, radio and mobile communications. The television tower is considered an important building of Eastern modernism. It is currently a purely technical structure and all licenses for public operation have expired. Cables for the technology have been laid in one of the two elevator shafts. The approval phase for operation with visitors is due to begin next year.

Tower to become a world of experience in future

An operator has already been found. He wants to turn the tower into a world of experience in future and upgrade it with digital technology. The panes are to be covered with ultra-thin LED films that will combine virtual and actual reality, according to reports. This will make it possible to experience a sunrise even in cloudy weather.