The Berlin Radio Tower, standing 154 metres tall and located in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf (Berlin, Germany), was illuminated with a light show featuring 32 high-powered iBOLT moving lights and 36 iESPRITE LTL luminaires from Robe to mark its centenary.
The planning and execution of the event were carried out by TSE AG (Berlin) on behalf of its client Messe Berlin GmbH, organiser of international trade fairs and major congresses. As a service provider for the congress and conference sector, as well as related events such as opening ceremonies, TSE AG acts as a full-service partner for Messe.
Built between 1924 and 1926 to a design by architect Heinrich Straumer, the tower was inaugurated in September 1926 at the exhibition grounds for the opening of the third Great German Radio Exhibition. It is one of the city’s most recognisable and popular landmarks and, although no longer used for broadcasting, remains a protected monument and a major tourist attraction.
Among the invited guests at the centenary event were Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner and his deputy Franziska Giffey, who experienced the tower under a different lighting perspective.
The 32 iBOLT fixtures were a central element of the lighting design, created by Björn Höschler and programmed by Tom Herfurth, both from the TSE AG team. Sixteen iBOLTs were installed at ground level and another 16 on the roof of the tower restaurant, located on the first structural platform. Their powerful parallel beams delivered a striking visual effect, visible from distances of up to one kilometre. In the timecoded show, the iBOLT beams were used not only to light the sky but also to highlight the tower’s delicate steel structure and symmetry through selective and alternating illumination of the platforms.
The upper sections of the structure were further enhanced with 32 iESPRITE LTL luminaires installed along the stairways, along with four additional units positioned at the top of the tower. Initial discussions about the lighting design began in the second half of 2025, including a detailed visualisation of the monument in Depence, at which point the fixtures were also selected. The project required high-output moving lights capable of covering the full height of the tower and illuminating its internal structure. The iESPRITE LTL was chosen for its brightness, wide zoom range of 3–57°, long-throw mode of 0.7–2°, and excellent size-to-performance ratio.
The iBOLT fixtures were included at the client’s request following a demonstration of their beam effects and capabilities.
For the installation, the fixtures had to be manually carried up a narrow staircase, taking care not to impact the protected structure, making weight and size critical factors.
For this type of application, Robe offers practical removable handles that attach to the fixture yoke, designed to facilitate vertical transport. These UpLift Handles are available in different sizes depending on the fixture model.
Numerous ideas were developed and discussed during the early stages of the project. The final design was completed and pre-programmed within a tight two-week timeframe, with only four days available for the complex on-site installation and final show adjustments.
The visual and lighting design was synchronised to the track Your Idol from the soundtrack of the Netflix series KPop Demon Hunters, selected by the client.
The fact that the lighting system consisted entirely of Robe fixtures simplified implementation, as the operating philosophy, DMX mapping structure and functionality were consistent.
Marcel Fery, CEO of TSE AG, highlighted the team’s work: We achieved a very solid result within a tight timeframe and are pleased with the positive response from both guests and the public. The execution ran smoothly thanks to the performance of the fixtures and the support of the Robe network, with Robe Germany coordinating the dry hire of the iBOLTs and confirming its reliability as a partner. We now look forward to the upcoming anniversary events.
Photos: Alexander Hüfner
