Rem Koolhaas OMA - Zollverein Mining Complex

Masterplan
Rem Koolhaas OMA
Zollverein Mining Complex
Essen, Germany

Photo: arcspace

Since being shut down in 1986 the Zollverein Mining Complex has become a shrine of industrial culture. The complex was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001, partly on the basis of the OMA-Masterplan which respects the old identity.

Photo © Entwicklungsgesellschaft Zollverein

In the heyday of the coal, iron and steel industry, the Zollverein Mine in Essen was the biggest and most modern plant for mining hard coal.
Inspired by the Bauhaus tradition at the beginning of the 1930s, the architects Fritz Schupp and Martin Kremmer developed the pit as a functional and flexible industrial construction in the style of the New Functionalism. Form and function, buildings and machines melted together to become an inseparable entity.

Photo © Entwicklungsgesellschaft Zollverein

The Masterplan consists of a band around the former historic site, containing the necessary new programs and functions.
The prominent buildings and plants are enclosed within a single footpath which runs all the way round the complex. Here visitors can go walking, jogging or inline skating. Numerous connecting paths will be built between this 3,500 meter long ringway and the surrounding streets, connecting the site to the north of Essen.

Photo courtesy OMA

The former rail tracks will be maintained as public space, and will connect the main buildings. The sky bridges, which transported coal from one part of the site to another, will be used for visitors who can also visit a 1,000 meter deep former mine tunnel.

Photo: arcspace

New roads and the extension of an existing highway through a tunnel with its entrance and exit close to the site will allow for an easier access to the site.
The allocation of new programs in the periphery allows the old buildings to maintain their grandeur and strong impact on the visitor.

Photo: arcspace

The Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen, with its large collection of awarded products at the Red Dot design museum, is located in the old Boiler House converted by Lord Norman Foster, that opened in 1997.

Photo: arcspace

The old Coal Washing Plant with the new Visitors Center, converted by Rem Koolhaas OMA, is nearing completion. The converted building will also house the new RuhrMuseum to open in 2007.
Coal Washing Plantarcspace feature.

Photo: arcspace

10,000 square meters of the Zollverein site are to become home to companies from the fields of design, architecture, exhibition construction, advertising, marketing and communication.
The “Creative Village” will have space for start-ups and young companies. Here students and graduates of the Zollverein School of Management and Design will be able to make professional contacts or found new companies themselves.

With its many ambitious plans and projects, Zollverein is making its mark as a leading international location for design. The exploitation and expansion of this potential will determine further developments in the coming years.

The opening of the new Zollverein School of Management and Design by SANAA and the first world design exhibition ENTRY 2006, will give additional impetus to the transformation of Zollverein into an international forum of design and culture.
Zollverein School arcspace feature.

Photo: arcspace

The Masterplan by OMA has been developed in close collaboration with world heritage specialists and conservationists, and will gradually get realized until 2010.

Site area: 100 hectar
Program:
Business Parks: 60,000 square meters
New programs: 100,000 square meters

Zeche Zollverein

Client: Ministry for Culture, Sports and Housing of Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW) and development company Zeche Zollverein

Architects: OMA
Partners-in-Charge: Rem Koolhaas & Floris Alkemade
Project Advisor: Ole Scheeren
Project Team:
Kees van Casteren
Olv Klein
Patrick Kuhn
Ena Lloret
Paz Martin
Katy Parssanedjad
Tammo Prinz
Jonas Sandberg
Erik Schotte
Johan De Wachter
Landscape: Agence Ter, Karlsruhe

Rem Koolhaas OMA arcspace features

August 7, 2006





				Features
		Masterplan Rem Koolhaas OMA Zollverein Mining Complex Essen, Germany Photo: arcspace Since being shut down in 1986 the Zollverein Mining Complex has become a shrine of industrial culture. The complex was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001, partly on the basis of the OMA-Masterplan which respects the old identity. Photo © Entwicklungsgesellschaft Zollverein In the heyday of the coal, iron and steel industry, the Zollverein Mine in Essen was the biggest and most modern plant for mining hard coal. Inspired by the Bauhaus tradition at the beginning of the 1930s, the architects Fritz Schupp and Martin Kremmer developed the pit as a functional and flexible industrial construction in the style of the New Functionalism. Form and function, buildings and machines melted together to become an inseparable entity. Photo © Entwicklungsgesellschaft Zollverein The Masterplan consists of a band around the former historic site, containing the necessary new programs and functions. The prominent buildings and plants are enclosed within a single footpath which runs all the way round the complex. Here visitors can go walking, jogging or inline skating. Numerous connecting paths will be built between this 3,500 meter long ringway and the surrounding streets, connecting the site to the north of Essen. Photo courtesy OMA Photo courtesy OMA The former rail tracks will be maintained as public space, and will connect the main buildings. The sky bridges, which transported coal from one part of the site to another, will be used for visitors who can also visit a 1,000 meter deep former mine tunnel. Photo: arcspace New roads and the extension of an existing highway through a tunnel with its entrance and exit close to the site will allow for an easier access to the site. The allocation of new programs in the periphery allows the old buildings to maintain their grandeur and strong impact on the visitor. Photo: arcspace The Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen, with its large collection of awarded products at the Red Dot design museum, is located in the old Boiler House converted by Lord Norman Foster, that opened in 1997. Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace The old Coal Washing Plant with the new Visitors Center, converted by Rem Koolhaas OMA, is nearing completion. The converted building will also house the new RuhrMuseum to open in 2007. Coal Washing Plantarcspace feature. Photo: arcspace 10,000 square meters of the Zollverein site are to become home to companies from the fields of design, architecture, exhibition construction, advertising, marketing and communication. The “Creative Village” will have space for start-ups and young companies. Here students and graduates of the Zollverein School of Management and Design will be able to make professional contacts or found new companies themselves. With its many ambitious plans and projects, Zollverein is making its mark as a leading international location for design. The exploitation and expansion of this potential will determine further developments in the coming years. The opening of the new Zollverein School of Management and Design by SANAA and the first world design exhibition ENTRY 2006, will give additional impetus to the transformation of Zollverein into an international forum of design and culture. Zollverein School arcspace feature. Photo: arcspace The Masterplan by OMA has been developed in close collaboration with world heritage specialists and conservationists, and will gradually get realized until 2010. Site area: 100 hectar Program: Business Parks: 60,000 square meters New programs: 100,000 square meters Zeche Zollverein Client: Ministry for Culture, Sports and Housing of Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW) and development company Zeche Zollverein Architects: OMA Partners-in-Charge: Rem Koolhaas & Floris Alkemade Project Advisor: Ole Scheeren Project Team: Kees van Casteren Olv Klein Patrick Kuhn Ena Lloret Paz Martin Katy Parssanedjad Tammo Prinz Jonas Sandberg Erik Schotte Johan De Wachter Landscape: Agence Ter, Karlsruhe Rem Koolhaas OMA arcspace features August 7, 2006