Florianturm
Encyclopedia
The Florianturm is a telecommunications tower and landmark of Dortmund
(Germany
). It is named after St. Florian, the patron saint
of gardeners.
The Florianturm is the TV tower of Dortmund and was built in 1959 as an attraction for a federal horticultural
show with a height of 219.6 metres. At the time it was briefly the highest freestanding structure in Germany.
The tower was constructed similarly to a high concrete
chimney
. It consists of a reinforced concrete tube, which tapers off as it rises, reaching a height of 129.75 metres. At 130.6 metres there is a building part with two floors. On the lower floor there are operation rooms and on the upper floor at 137.54 metres there is a revolving restaurant
. At 141.88 metres and 144.7 metres there are two observation decks.
On the upper observation deck there are installations and aerial
s of Deutsche Telekom
. Since 1959 it has been used for transmitting television signals.
On September 7, 2004, a Russia
n helicopter
was used to replace the aerial. Since then, a 50-kilowatt transmitter has transmitted digital terrestrial television
programmes for the Dortmund area.
Since September 7, 2004 the Florianturm has a height of 208.56 metres, making it the fourteenth highest structure in Germany.
From 1996 to 1998 the tower was renovated and safety standards were brought up to date.
In 2000 a catwalk for bungee jumping
was opened on the upper platform. It was closed in 2003 after a fatal accident and has been uninstalled in July 2008.
Dortmund
Dortmund is a city in Germany. It is located in the Bundesland of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Ruhr area. Its population of 585,045 makes it the 7th largest city in Germany and the 34th largest in the European Union....
(Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
). It is named after St. Florian, the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of gardeners.
The Florianturm is the TV tower of Dortmund and was built in 1959 as an attraction for a federal horticultural
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
show with a height of 219.6 metres. At the time it was briefly the highest freestanding structure in Germany.
The tower was constructed similarly to a high concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
. It consists of a reinforced concrete tube, which tapers off as it rises, reaching a height of 129.75 metres. At 130.6 metres there is a building part with two floors. On the lower floor there are operation rooms and on the upper floor at 137.54 metres there is a revolving restaurant
Revolving restaurant
A revolving restaurant is a usually tower restaurant eating space designed to rest atop a broad circular revolving platform that operates as a large turntable. The building remains stationary and the diners are carried on the revolving floor. The revolving rate varies between one and three times...
. At 141.88 metres and 144.7 metres there are two observation decks.
On the upper observation deck there are installations and aerial
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
s of Deutsche Telekom
Deutsche Telekom
Deutsche Telekom AG is a telecommunications company headquartered in Bonn, Germany. It is the largest telecommunications company in Europe....
. Since 1959 it has been used for transmitting television signals.
On September 7, 2004, a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
was used to replace the aerial. Since then, a 50-kilowatt transmitter has transmitted digital terrestrial television
Digital terrestrial television
Digital terrestrial television is the technological evolution of broadcast television and advance from analog television, which broadcasts land-based signals...
programmes for the Dortmund area.
Since September 7, 2004 the Florianturm has a height of 208.56 metres, making it the fourteenth highest structure in Germany.
From 1996 to 1998 the tower was renovated and safety standards were brought up to date.
In 2000 a catwalk for bungee jumping
Bungee jumping
Bungee jumping is an activity that involves jumping from a tall structure while connected to a large elastic cord. The tall structure is usually a fixed object, such as a building, bridge or crane; but it is also possible to jump from a movable object, such as a hot-air-balloon or helicopter, that...
was opened on the upper platform. It was closed in 2003 after a fatal accident and has been uninstalled in July 2008.
Data
- architect: Will Schwarz, Dortmund
- construction time: May 1958 – April 1959
- depth of basement: 8.10 m, the lowest part of the substructure is 110.3 m above sea level
- diameter of basement: 25 m
- thickness of basement plate: 2.5 m
- total weight: approx. 7,700 t
- volume of cement: approx. 1,385 t
- total weight of concrete: approx. 3,400 m³
- total weight of steel: approx. 660 t
- stability ratio: 3.5x