Last weekend, Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Zone (Zeche Zollverein) looks more lively than usual and more, the annual German design salon (Design Gipfel) in Essen (Essen) town activities come to an end, designers from around the world They took out their own designs of clothing, jewelry, decorations, etc., and displayed and sold them to the people who came here. Behind the market crowds, such as weaving, bone is reinforced iron mine buildings, the towering skyline of No. XII of mine derrick, exudes the front of the gorgeous fashion different light.

This derrick with industrial lines and muscles is also known as the "Eiffel Tower in the Ruhr area", just like the coal mine industrial area in which it is located. It is the most landmark city symbol, recording the city of Essen. Historical changes.

From the industrial center of the Ruhr area in the past to the “green capital of Europe” in 2017, Essen’s small town seems to have always been at the forefront of the times: in the 11th century, it became a commercial town, and in the 14th century, the coal mining industry rose. In the 19th century, a large-scale steel company was established. With the development of coal and iron resources, it became a world-famous industrial town. In the 1980s, the visionary trains of environmental protection and art were far-sighted, and the rust was gradually removed, turning the cumbersome and majestic industrial buildings into stylish and fashionable landmarks. Among them, the most representative Customs Union coal mine industrial zone was included in the list of World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2001.

This is due to the North Rhine-Westphalia government in Essen, which was launched at the end of the last century. The Internatio nale Bauausstellung Emscher Park (IBA Emscher Park) project is extremely large. The project encompasses the original industrial area of ​​the 800-square-kilometer area of ​​the Emscher River in the east from Bergkamen to Duisburg, through ten years of ecological and architectural renovation. The development of emerging industries will achieve an overall economic and cultural revitalization. The Customs Union coal mine area was also purchased by the government and integrated into the IBA project after it was completely discontinued in 1986.

The very large IBA Ems Park

At the same time, in order to transform a large number of industrial relics into a more coordinated urban landscape, the Ruhr area began to design a famous tourist route in 1998: the Route der Industriekultur, which was included in the 15th seat. Industrial cities, 25 industrial attractions, 14 viewing platforms with panoramic views and 13 industrial and cultural communities where workers are concentrated, carry out more planned renovation, packaging and integration. The Customs Union coal mine area was once again selected as an important attraction and began a new transformation from the outside to the inside.

Luer District's “Industrial Heritage Tour” Roadmap

The reconstructed coal mines are divided into three major regions, A, B and C. The zones are clear and functional. The C area was mainly converted from the original coking plant, and there are many play facilities beyond your imagination: the giant coal mine wheel was changed into a “sunshine ferris wheel” that was only opened in spring and summer, and the original condensate pool was transformed into a A winter-limited ice rink, an industrial pool welded by containers, is now a swimming pool where children can play safely.

Area B has the least amount of excursions, and more for locals to live and work in peace: a kindergarten, a pottery workshop and a mining office are the main buildings here. By connecting the air corridors in Zones C and A, you can overlook the thick pipes that are staggered like spider webs at your feet. Oh, yes, there is also the only stage art performance venue in the mining area. The recent release of the German classic drama "Split Sky".

Area A is where the essence of the building is located. For example, hosted by the famous British architect Norman Foster, the original bold boiler room was converted into the famous Red Dot Design Museum.

The Red Dot Design Award is one of the most important world-class awards in modern design. It is hosted and awarded by the German Design Association every year. The award-winning works range from transportation and electronics to tableware and clothing. You can see it in the museum. These brainstorming exhibits.

Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas accepted another provocative essay that transformed the original coal-washing tower in the mine into a museum that shows the history and transformation of the industry: the Ruhr Museum . He retained most of the rusty mechanical, steel and concrete walls, but selectively reconfigured the plant space and painstakingly moved the black and orange through the entire space of the building: black clearly symbolizes the coal mine. Orange is reminiscent of the heat and sparks of smelting.

The 55-meter-long, 24-meter-high coal conveyor belt is now a fully transparent sightseeing escalator

The interior of the museum also uses orange light to contrast with the dark atmosphere.

The exhibitions in the museum are equally remarkable. They include souvenirs and collections that show the history of the industry, such as various minerals and animal specimens. They also show the dark side of the industry through a large number of photos and objects: health hazards to people and ecology. Ulrich Borsdorf, curator of the museum, explained this: “The Ruhr Museum wants to express the identity of Ruhr’s history. But we don’t present it from a nostalgic perspective, but re-examine it through critical perspectives. History: Understanding history is not about getting us back in the past, but about getting to know the present."

What's more unexpected is that there is also a school of its own: the School of Management and Design. Unlike other buildings, it was built in 2006 and is the first time for the 50th anniversary of the mine. The new building was designed and built by Japanese avant-garde architect Sister Ichi. The whole building is a simple cube shape, which echoes the original geometric block industrial buildings in the mining area. The square windows covered with four walls are different in size, penetrating, light and reflecting the gentle nature, which balances the original hard and heavy concrete. Texture.

This already cool enough coal mine is still creating new spaces, such as the Zollverein Grand Hall, which opened in January this year. The 3,500-square-meter hall with a maximum capacity of 2,400 people is more fashionable. Designed with more modern audiovisual equipment, the future will be a great venue for major exhibitions, concerts and theme parties.