If your idea of a great trip involves hunting down some bizarre concrete structures from the Cold War, I think you need to head straight to Berlin Adlershof. There, you will find a sleek innovation district that once served as the beating heart of East German scientific research; tucked away between some buildings lies one of Europe’s most intriguing architectural oddities: the Isothermal Spherical Laboratories.
They are extraordinary.
These twin concrete orbs were constructed between 1959 and 1961, and they don’t resemble the research facilities I imagine. They look more like a pair of retro-futuristic spacecraft that managed to land, unannounced, in the middle of a German technology park.
I was really surprised about them when I first visited the area. I was biking towards the Aerodynamic Park in Berlin-Adlershof and decided to explore the area a bit more. Hidden away, between some buildings, there were some round structures. I had to come close, and a sign told me that I was standing next to the Isothermal Spherical Laboratories. And I loved it.
Brutalist Treasures of East Berlin: The Isothermal Spherical Laboratories
At the height of the Space Race, scientific dominance was one of the most important issues that East and West were fighting over. In East Germany, chemist Peter Adolf Thiessen and architect Horst Welser worked together to create a dedicated facility for metallurgical experiments with extreme high precision. The goal was to advance the aerospace technology in the GDR.
For that to happen, researchers needed rooms that could maintain a rock-solid internal temperature (fluctuating by no more than 0.01ºC) without relying on active air conditioning, which was unreliable at the time. Horst Welser thought that a practical solution would be to build two spherical chambers perched atop striking, V-shaped concrete pillars. Some would consider this to be pure architectural genius. Because a sphere has the smallest surface area compared to its volume, it naturally doesn’t react to changes in temperature outside of it.
To achieve passive climate control, the spheres were put together with inner shells made of reinforced concrete that were 20 cm thick. When you add that this was wrapped in 125 cm of thermal insulation, you can see how it would work. The entire structure was elevated off the ground and linked to a narrow staircase that served as an airlock to keep the outside world firmly at bay.
Berlin Brutalism with a Local Sense of Humor
Visually speaking, the Isothermal Spherical Laboratories embodies everything lovers of concrete Brutalist architecture crave. They look raw. They are uncompromising, have a raw appearance, are unyielding, and the weighty concrete shapes give them strength.
In East Berlin folklore, the complex quickly earned a cheeky nickname: Adlershofer Busen—the “Academy Breasts.” Which makes a lot of sense to me.
Even though it looks more than fantastic, the design had its flaws. Some experiments required absolute, unbroken silence. The ultra-sensitive measuring apparatus was occasionally confused by mechanical vibrations that rattled straight up the concrete stilts due to heavy traffic on the nearby Rudower Chaussee.
Still, the scientists and researchers made it work. For many years, the concrete spheres were used for careful thermodynamic studies of space-grade aluminum alloys.
Later, as research priorities shifted, the versatile concrete shells were adapted for electromagnetic testing and repurposed for mundane storage. And even used as makeshift venues for late-night party celebrations and indoor roller-skating tournaments, according to what I read on Wikipedia.
Planning Your Visit to the Isothermal Spherical Laboratories in Adlershof
After the Berlin Wall came down and East Germany ended, a lot of the research center around it was torn down, but the Isothermal Spherical Laboratories were left standing. And thanks to a dedicated preservation effort, these concrete structures enjoy a protected monument status.
Located at Am Studio 1a in Berlin Adlershof, the spheres sit close to the nearby Aerodynamic Park—another haven of early 20th-century aviation history and striking concrete structures. I think a visit to both is something perfect for those who enjoy some concrete architecture.
Today, you can’t just walk around inside the climate-controlled rooms, but the view from the outside is worth taking pictures of for architecture fans, photographers, and history buffs from the GDR. The Isothermal Spherical Laboratories are among Berlin’s best-kept secrets if you value the sculptural potential of unfinished concrete and wish to see a singular piece of Cold War history. Just follow the map below.
The Isothermal Spherical Laboratories: GDR Concrete Sci-Fi in Berlin Adlershof
Am Studio 1a, 12489 Berlin
