Potsdam: Einsteinturm

The Einsteinturm (Einstein Tower) is located in Potsdam. The

architect, Erich Mendelsohn, designed the tower in the early 1920s.

The design is a well known example of German Expressionism. The tower

contains a telescope and related optical devices that were designed

and constructed to observe the solar system for the purpose of testing

some predictions of Einstein's general theory of relativity. The

optics were not sufficiently sensitive to execute the intended

objective. Thus the Einsteinturm was a technical failure and an

architectural success. Over the years, the tower fell into disrepair.

But it was recently renovated, as the photo shows.