Sony Center, Potsdamer Platz
A Glazed City

Donated by Murphy/Jahn, Chicago
A huge architectural compound of 130,000 square meters
The Sony Center is a cosmic compound architecture, housing Sony European Headquarters, other office buildings, classy apartment houses and residences, Filmhaus, Deutsche Mediathek, commercial facilities, and the Urban Entertainment Center in which there is IMAX 3D cinema and a cinema complex. Excluding the underground parking lots, the Compound has an area of 132,500 square meters.

The light-filled Forum
The Forum in the center of the Sony Center resembles a city square with covered blocks, which revives the tradition of European urban architecture, creating a quasi "Modern Passage". Several major events were held in the Forum, such as the grand opening concert in which Mr. Ohga, Sony's Chairman, conducted the Berliner Philharmonic Orchestra.

Sony European Headquarters and office buildings
One of the largest business centers existing here consists of the Sony European Headquarters (floor space of 20,000 me) which faces Tiergarten, the big park in the heart of Berlin, a twenty-six story building on Potsdamer Platz which is 103 meters in height and is highest in the area (floor space of 23,000 m2), a building on Potsdamer Strasse (floor space 14,000 m2), and a building on Bellevuestrasse.

Entertainment space
Under the Forum, there is the Cinema Complex with 8 screens and The Music Box in which you can enjoy virtual conducting of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra or enjoy boarding the Yellow Submarine of The Beatles. The IMAX 3D cinema is built as if to stick out into the forum.

 Filmhaus and Deutsche Mediathek
These facilities are located on Potsdamer Stra§e. In addition to the cinema museum, cinema school, cinema and TV studio and video studios, there are some exhibitions including the Marlene Dietrich collection in the Filmhouse. In Mediathek, there is a radio-TV library, multi-media rooms, exhibition hall, and event rooms.

Preserving the old landmarks
The Grandhotel Esplanade was built in 1908 and was the stage of high society before the war. Even though the majority of the Esplanade was destroyed during the Second World War, a part of the old splendor has been preserved. After the collapse of the Mauer, the "Emperor's Hall" (Neo-Baroque architecture) and the "Breakfast Hall" (Rococo architecture) were designated as cultural assets. These two halls were later moved and are used today as part of a restaurant and cafe.

High-class residences
On redevelopment, the Berlin municipal authorities requested the construction of residential quarters with a floor space of 26,500 m2, which amounts to 20% of the entire project. Most of the residences are located on the side of the tranquil park, crossing over the former Grandhotel Esplanade.

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