On the "Hoher Bopser" in Degerloch
In only 20 months the worldwide first television tower was built by Wayss & Freytag in Stuttgart. The tower situated on Hoher Bopser in Degerloch was built according to the designs of Fritz Leonhardt and Erwin Heinle and is a world-famous – and often copied – landmark of the city. The foundation stone was laid on June 10, 1954, the topping-out ceremony was on August 23, 1955 and the opening on February 5, 1956.
With its antenna, the Stuttgart television tower has a total height of 216.80 m and is made of reinforced concrete. The shaft diameter is 10.80 m at the base and 5.10 m at the tower head below the observation deck. The wall thickness varies from 80 cm at the base to 19 cm at the head. The foundation is an 80 cm thick footing with an outer diameter of 27 m. The observation deck, from which one can see the Swiss Alps in clear weather, is located at a height of 153.50 m. The conical pulpit, where a tower café, a restaurant as well as the kitchen floor and technical floors are located, has a maximum outer diameter of 15 m.
The television tower, initially controversially discussed in the city council, has been under monument protection since 1986. The Space Needle in Seattle and the Sentech – Tower in Johannesburg, among others, are modelled on it. On March 30, 2006 the tower was able to welcome its 25 millionth visitor. The construction costs of 4.2 m DM were already amortised after five years.