Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex

The Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen Germany was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 14 2001. It comprises Shaft XII Shaft 1 2 8 and the Coking Plant covering a total area of 100 hectares which is larger than Essen’s city center. Zollverein was the last of approximately 290 collieries in Essen which was once the largest mining city in Europe. Shaft XII was placed under preservation in 1986 followed by Shaft 1 2 8 and the Coking Plant in 2000. The site features 96 buildings over 200 technical plants and machines roughly 2.7 kilometers of conveyor bridges and more than 13.2 kilometers of pipelines making it one of the largest industrial monuments in Europe and worldwide. Its iconic Doppelbock pit head gear has become a landmark of the Ruhr region and a symbol of regional identity. Numerous conversion projects and new buildings designed by renowned architects have earned international awards and recognition.

Since 2002 following a master plan by architect Rem Koolhaas and the Office for Metropolitan Architecture OMA Zollverein has been transformed into a hub for the creative industries education tourism and recreation. It stands as an exemplary model of structural change in a former industrial region demonstrating how historic industrial sites can be preserved while serving modern purposes. Zollverein is a central anchor of the Route of Industrial Heritage and the European Route of Industrial Heritage ERIH and it is part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Journeys travel platform. The Ruhr Museum opened in 2010 showcases the natural and cultural history of the Ruhr area and attracts around 200 000 visitors annually. The site is internationally recognized for design through the Red Dot Design Museum and awards and for contemporary arts and performance via PACT Zollverein which focuses on dance theatre media and fine arts. The Folkwang University of the Arts Design Faculty also conducts research and teaching on the premises.

Zollverein hosts numerous cultural events and trade fairs including the Ruhrtriennale Klavier Festival Ruhr ExtraSchicht and contemporary art ruhr C.A.R. The surrounding Zollverein Park covers 70 hectares and features over 20 art installations contributing to the area’s role in the Emscher Landschaftspark and its recognition during the European Green Capital 2017. Today the World Heritage Site is home to more than 60 creative and innovative companies while the start up center ZukunftsZentrumZollverein Triple Z accommodates over 70 start ups on Shafts 4 5 11. Zollverein uniquely combines industrial heritage preservation with cultural educational and economic development making it a global model for adaptive reuse of historic industrial sites.