Walking by Knaackstraße, it is impossible not to notice this immense ancient building – the Berlin Water Tower. 

In the middle of the 19th century, only a few houses had central water supply and heating. Most citizens had to bring water from outside, which was kept in huge canisters in special places. 

In the year 1856, in the Perzlauer Berg region, the first water reservoirs were installed. They should completely satisfy the needs of the locals. But it was not sufficient for the locals. So, in 1877, in place of warehouses, the modern water tower was built. Because of its size, Berliners called it “dicker Hermann”.

It is interesting, that except for the water reservoirs on the top of the tower, machine rooms and other technical spaces, the builders made there the living rooms for stuff.

Since 1952 the tower became a monument and a cultural center, but the “apartments” have functioned as previously, and people lived there. 

The tower had one more function for its long history: since 1933, the year when national socialists took the power, the machine room was used as a concentration camp, where people were imprisoned and killed. Nowadays, this is a children's park. Only a memorial tablet and a stand remind about the terrible events, taking place there. 

Today the Water Tower is situated close to a nice park. Coming to the top of the building, the visitors see a beautiful sunset and a Berliner Fernsehturm. Inside the building is a cultural center with exhibitions, spectacles and music concerts.