Berlin Photo Gallery - Kollhoff Tower Panoramapunkt

Kollhoff Tower was completed in 1999 as part of the revitalized Potsdamer Platz. The building is named after local architect Hans Kollhoff, who worked with a team led by reknowned architect Renzo Piano to create 19 buildings in the area. Surprised there was no line to go up on a sunny afternoon, I was whisked up the short elevator ride to the 24th floor in no time. Panoramapunkt offers 2 floors of views towards Berlin's vast cityscape at the top of the building. Berlin is not over-touristed like Barcelona or Venice and I got to enjoy the nice views in peace. The observation deck has plenty of space and it never got crowded. The lower floor actually offers a better perspective of the skyline as the east side facing the historic areas is blocked due to the brick structure on the upper floor. Looking north, I could see the Reichstag, which is just a short walk away. Towards the east, the main highlight is the TV tower at Alexanderplatz, which charges a substantially higher admission for its observation deck. Further to the west, there are cultural facilities behind the skyscraper cluster. Further west, there is another small skyline around the zoo. The Potsdamer Platz area was a no-man's zone during the Cold War as the Berlin Wall ran right through here. After reunification, redevelopment was swift with many new buildings rising. There is an exhibition on the 24th floor showcasing the area's history and redevelopment that is worth a look.