Modern Architectural Marvels in Berlin, Segment 8: Zoofenster and Upper West

In the heart of Berlin-Charlottenburg, two towering structures have emerged as architectural icons - the Upper West and the Zoofenster.

The Upper West, standing at 118.8 meters tall, was constructed a year after the opening of the Waldorf Astoria hotel in 2013, originally known as the Atlas Tower. Its architect, Professor Christoph Langhof, designed the building according to German sustainability criteria, following the demolition of the protected Schimmelpfeng House on the same site.

The Zoofenster, housing the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, is slightly taller at 119 meters. It consists of a building base, a 22-story building wing, and a further 32-story tower. The base appears angular and sharp, but the structures dissolve upwards into elegant curves and rounded shapes.

Together, the Upper West and Zoofenster form an architectural gateway to the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche and are significant high-rises in the area. They frame the church and contribute to the urban development of the Kantstraße.

The Zoofenster, like the Upper West, is one of the top five tallest buildings in Berlin, taking fifth place. The slender Upper West building can be divided into two towers, but this is an optical illusion created by clever design. The "twin tower" of Upper West is surrounded by an eight-story bar building.

The facade of the Upper West skyscraper features vertical and horizontal shadow joints, creating a dancing viewing effect and an impressive play of light and shadow. This modern structure stands in stark contrast to the historic charm of the surrounding City West, which includes the districts of Charlottenburg, Schoeneberg, Wilmersdorf, and Tiergarten.

The "New West" or "Zoo Quarter" was born in 1882 with the opening of the Zoological Garden station and experienced a feverish urban development. Kaiser Wilhelm II constructed the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and two Romanesque houses and exhibition halls as part of the Romanesque Forum, becoming symbols of the "New West" era.

City West around the Kurfuerstendamm between Breitscheidplatz and Tauentzienstraße has reinvented itself, featuring a diverse building culture and extensive coexistence of architectural history from various epochs. The Upper West, along with Zoofenster, ranks among the top five tallest buildings in Berlin and takes fourth place in the Berlin skyscraper list.

The construction of the Upper West was perceived positively by the media and politics as a successful revitalization of the City West. The complex and the Zoofenster are part of Berlin's ambitious urban development program and express the city planners' ambitions to re-establish City West as an attractive business center.

The Upper West welcomes visitors to Breitscheidplatz with a gleaming white monolith and houses retail stores, the Motel One, numerous offices, and a sky bar. The complex and the Zoofenster, framing the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche, form an architectural gateway to the Kantstraße, marking the beginning of a new era for Berlin's City West.