Have you seen the pink pipes in Berlin and wondered what they are used for? Then read on, because here’s the story of the pink, purple, and blue pipes of Berlin
Also, why are the pipes in Berlin pink?
The question about the pink pipes in Berlin often comes up on my tours. I’ve heard many creative answers, from sewage pipes to giant beer kegs.
Here is the story behind the pink pipes.
Berlin has a lot of groundwater because the city is built on a swamp. The word Berlin means swamp, but that’s another story, which includes the mystery of the Berlin bear.
The land under and around Berlin is marshy, so the water level is very high. This makes building new houses difficult. There are many construction sites in Berlin. When digging a few meters down for foundations, groundwater often rises to the surface.
To build in Berlin, the groundwater must be pumped out to make the ground dry. This is where the pink pipes enter the cityscape.
Photo by Chrissie Sternschnuppe@Flickr. CC BY-SA
But why are the pipes pink at all?
In some parts of the city, the pipes are light blue or purple, but most are pink, and this is not a coincidence. According to this BBC TV report, the pipe manufacturer asked a psychologist what colors children like. She replied that it’s purple and pink. She also said that young people and those who feel young at heart also prefer purple and pink.
Berlin is in many ways a young city.
Berlin became a big city only about 150 years ago. From the start, it was modern with electric street lamps and electric subway trains. Today, Berlin stays young because people from many backgrounds keep the melting pot going every day.
The color pink seamlessly blends into Berlin’s landscape, and it would feel odd if the iconic pink pipes ever disappeared.
