RUHR 2010, from Coke to Culture...

From coke to culture...

RUHR

2010

A feature by Jean-Franรงois Rollinger / ANA Agency

The Landschaftspark in Duisburg.

The former Meiderich stellworks, transformed into a landscaped park.

(Lighting effects: Jonathan Park)

The Zeche Zollverein coking plant, north of Essen (lighting effects: Speirs and Major)

Zeche Zollverein, north of Essen (lighting effects: Speirs and Major)

Ruhr 2010. From coke to culture...

“Change through culture”.

Using this motto, the European Union jury designated the Ruhr basin in North Rhine-Westphalia, and it’s flag-bearer, the city of Essen, as European capital of culture 2010.

A unique event as for the first time, a whole valley and its weighty economic past, have been chosen and the industrial

capital, caught in the limelight.

Whilst everywhere else, these black relics are being destroyed, considered despicable and of no interest, the Germans, proud of their industrial heritage, took the opposite direction and transformed the Ruhr into a sensational artistic complex and a unique urbanism laboratory.

From now on, art combines with industry...

In Duisburg, Dortmund, Oberhausen, Bochum, Gelsenkirchen, artists, architects and urbanists are encouraged to express themselves. Former factories are metamorphosed into museums, avant-gardist exhibitions take possession of boiler rooms and renovated

coking plant. Some sites are brought to light as others are freshly reconditioned : the old steel cathedrals will remain standing! To bear witness.

The Ruhr, a wounded territory, is forging itself a new identity...

J.-F. Rollinger

Each year at the beginning of summer, the industrial culture is celebrated during one night: the “Extraschicht�. The steel giants are awoken with celebrations and activities.

Here, the powerhouse of the former blower house, Meiderich steelworks in Duisburg.

The Landsch in Duisb Former Me steelwo a platform at the top blast-fur Lighting ef Jonathan

haftspark burg. eiderich orks, located of the nace. ffects: Park.

The Ruhr museum (Zeche Zollverein, north of Essen).

Stairway of the Ruhr Museum designed by Jonathan Speirs et Mark Major.

“Out of this World – Wonders of Oberhausen (summer

Oberhausen, the big gas-holder in Thyssen.

the Solar System” exhibition, 2009 – dec. 2010).

The Aquarius water tower in Mülheim, shelters a water museum.

An ice rink, installed in the Zollverein coking plant during Yuletide.

Bochum, the Deutsches Bergbau Museum.

Tour of the mine.

The last ore trolley which came out of the mine on January 11th, 2000.

Oberhausen.

Animation at the Museum of heavy industry during the Industrial culture night.

Zollverein, Ruhr Museum.

“Casino Zollverein�, a restaurant located in the former boiler room.

Installation in the former Zollverein coking plant constructions.

The ice rink, installed in the former Zollverein coking plant during Yuletide.

The Oberhausen gas-holder during the “Out of this World – Wonders of the Solar System” exhibition (summer 2009 – dec. 2010)

Bottrop, a water treatment plant.

Concerts given in the former blower house of the Meiderich stellworks, Duisburg during “Extraschicht�.

The Landschaftspark in Duisburg. The former Meiderich stellworks, transformed into a landscaped park and illuminated by Jonathan park.

Former mining site in Zollverein.

The Zollverein shoring has become an emblem of the Ruhr valley.

At the former Meiderich stellworks in Duisburg during “Extraschicht�

The Wilhem Lehmbruck Museum of Duisburg.

“3D Body scan 1:6” by Karin Sander.

Essen, train station area.

Sculpture recalling the industrial activity.

Bochum, metal sculpture at the entrance of the DBM (Deutsches Bergau Museum), view from the top of the shoring.

Climbing area in the former tanks of the Meiderich steelworks, now a landscaped park.

The Landschaftspark of Duisburg.

Landschaftspark, Duisburg.

Zollverein, Ruhr Museum.

Essen. Tour of the co where vegetat

king plant of Zollverein, ion grows freely.

Dortmund: Zeche Zollern

Dortmund: the Hansa coking plant. “Lichtspiele - Wasserspiele� Artistic installation

by Angelina Herker in the compressor room.

Children’s games.

Duisburg. A sculpture by Erich Hauser in the Emmanuel Kant park.

Children’s games.

Dortmund: Zeche Zollern.

Art nouveau entrance.

The Landschaftspark in Duisburg.

Former Meiderich steelworks transformed into a landscaped park.

(Lighting effects: Jonathan Park).

From coke to culture...

RUHR

2010

A FEATURE BY JEAN-FRANÇOIS ROLLINGER – ANA AGENCY