50km - 360°:We offer a unique perspective on the region to tourists, ecologists, educational and other specialist visitors.
Placed dramatically on the roof of a disused water tower the outlook point is a fully accessable viewing platform which allows visitors to appreciate the topology and beauty of the UNESCO Biosphere. Designed by the Berlin based architect Frank Meilchen, the new stairway and lift tower provides two equally exciting journey's to the outlook platform. Awaiting the visitor are views over the 'Schorfheide' one of Europe's largest mixed forests and to points of interest further afield such as the Polish border (35Km) and the Fernsehturm (TV Tower) in Berlin (70Km). Barrier free access or the healthy route via 118 steps. 
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The Building:The water tower was built between 1959 and 1960. The main - some say 'official' purpose - was to deliver water pressure to the new school complex which was being built at the same time. It is common knowledge that the strategic and technical uses offered by building such a high structure on a hill were equal if not greater than the official reason.
In 1987 the water tower ceased to function in its primary form as a pump system was established in Joachimsthal. The antennae which had been on the roof since 1960 remained and were after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 replaced by antennae for both mobile telecommunications and for forest fire early warning systems. In the early 1990's the site around the water tower fell into disuse. In 2003 Sarah Phillips and Richard Hurding seized the opportunity to use the tower as a 'starting block' for the BIORAMA-Projekt. They acquired the water tower together with the surrounding buildings and initiated the building of a multipurpose structure which would allow the public to access the roof of the water tower and to provide them with a private residence. This 'phase 1' complex has been featured world wide in many forms of media. 
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