| Project Id |
3619 |
| Project Name |
Zeche Zollverein, Germany |
| Description |
Zollverein was the world's largest and most modern coal-mining facility and a leading example of the development of heavy industry in Europe. At its peak, 8,000 miners worked day and night in the mines and the buildings above ground. Coal was mined and processed here for 135 years, before the mine was decommissioned in 1986. Today, with its Bauhaus-influenced design, the mine is a triumph of modern industrial architecture and a centre for art and culture. Now it is a large park combining industrial archaeology, green landscape, leisure installations, and cultural facilities. This building symbolizes the structural change in the Ruhr metropolis like no other. Along with its sheer size, the architecture of the Zollverein complex is important. It houses the Ruhr Museum, which is about the history of the region and the Red Dot Design Museum. It’s a touristic location for events, meetings, performing arts and festivals. |
| Description of the economic, social and environmental impacts of the project |
The Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen was awarded the designation of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, and is one of the world’s most impressive industrial monuments. Since the final working shift in 1986, Zollverein has been transformed into a prime site for the art, culture and creative sectors, attracting more than two million visitors a year. Especially in summer, the colliery site hosts numerous events such as concerts, open-air cinemas and a gourmet festival. Other highlights include the Zechenfest (Coal Mine Festival) and the Contemporary Art Ruhr fair, as well as festivals like ExtraSchicht and the Ruhrtriennale, both of which use the Zollverein as a venue. For visitors interested in athletic adventures, an ice rink awaits in winter while the Werksschwimmbad swimming pool invites visitors to cool off – entry is free. The site won the European Prize for Urban Public Space 2018. |
| Web links |
https://www.zollverein.de/ |
| Country |
Germany |
| City size |
Intermediate cities (between 50.000-1 million people) |
