Flaschenturm

In Berlin’s Stralau district stands a unique piece of industrial heritage: the Flaschenturm. This old bottling tower was once part of the Engelhardt Brewery, a major player in Berlin’s beer industry. At its peak, the tower filled an impressive 300,000 beer bottles every day. The Engelhardt Brewery, founded by Jewish entrepreneur Ignatz Nacher, was the largest malt beer producer in Berlin at the time. Built between 1929 and 1930, the bottling tower was designed by architect Bruno Buch.

His design, made of reinforced concrete, emphasized functionality and strength, reflecting the industrial spirit of the era. In 1933, however, tragedy struck: after the Nazi rise to power, Nacher was forced to hand over his company to Dresdner Bank. During World War II, the brewery continued to operate, largely thanks to the labor of Italian forced workers.

After the war, Stralau ended up in East Germany, and the brewery was nationalized under the name VEB Engelhardt. It became a major employer in the region, but after German reunification in 1990, Engelhardt, like many East German companies, could not withstand the new market economy and was forced to shut down. Most of the brewery was demolished, but the Flaschenturm still stands today.