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Essential
Architecture- Frankfort on the Main
(Frankfurt am Main)
Europaturm |
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architect
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Erwin Heinle |
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location
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Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany |
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date
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1974-9 |
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style
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High-Tech Modern |
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construction
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337.5 meters |
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type
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telecommunications tower |
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The Europaturm ("Tower of Europe") is a 337.5 meter high
telecommunications tower in Frankfurt am Main in Germany. Habitants call
it "Ginnemer Spaschel" (dialect of Hesse for "Asparagus of Ginnheim" and
accurately related to as "Ginnheimer Spargel" in High German), because
it's part of Ginnheim, a district of the City. Or simply "Fernsehturm"
("Television Tower") for it was the first broadcast tower in Frankfurt.
History
Designed by architect Erwin Heinle, the tower's construction
began in 1974. At its completion five years later, it became the tallest
free-standing structure in the Federal Republic of Germany at 331
meters. Even without the height of the antenna at its top, the building
still is over 295 meters high, which still makes it Germany's tallest
structure. Its base, at 59 meters thick, is the widest of any similar
structure in the world.
The top of the tower can turn and provides a panoramic view of
the Rhine Main area. For a number of years, the upper part of the
structure housed a restaurant and discotheque, but since 1999, the
Europaturm has been closed to the public.
In September, 2004, the antenna at the top of the tower was
replaced, increasing the total height to 337.5 meters. The six-ton
antenna was lifted to the top in two parts by helicopter.
The tower's height is roughly equal to that of the Eiffel tower
in Paris, which stands approximately 300 meters tall, less its 24-meter
television antenna.
Broadcast capability
With the new antenna, the tower became capable of
broadcasting high-definition digital television signals using the DVB-T
standard (which is the European counterpart to the ATSC digital standard
used in the United States). It is capable of broadcasting four channels
per transmitter, for a total of twenty-four channels, at 100 kilowatts
per channel.
It is capable of receiving satellite broadcasts and
redistributing them via cable or terrestrial broadcasts.
Other facts
The tower is owned and operated by T-Systems, a
subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom. At night, it is illuminated with magenta
lighting, the company's corporate colors.
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links
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www.essential-architecture.com
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