Oberspree Power Station (1897)

Opened in 1897, Europe’s first alternating current power station was a technological sensation. The cooling water came directly from the Spree. Its design was inspired by the Palais des Beaux Arts, the “Palace of the Arts” at the 1855 Paris World’s Fair. The power station brought Oberschöneweide to the attention of engineers and urban planners. They traveled from far and wide to view this manmade marvel. The power station used state-of-the-art technology to transmit electricity over long distances with little loss, thus furnishing Berlin’s suburbs with power and light. It was also a magnet for new businesses. The first to make use of the new energy source was the AEG Cable Works. In 2013 the Knaak sculpture foundry moved into a portion of the complex. The turbine hall is now home to MaHalla, a gigantic open space for creative expression.