BASIC PRESS RELEASE
February 2015
UNESCO World Heritage Site Zollverein (abridged version)
“The most beautiful coal mine in the world”: landmark of the Ruhr area, monument of industrial culture and
symbol for the change of the largest coal mine in Europe into an attractive culture and business centre
On 14 December 2001, the Zollverein Coal Mine and Coking Plant in Essen was officially inscribed on the UNESCO
World Heritage List as “Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex”. The completely preserved facilities represent
the social, economic, aesthetic, and industrial history of the coal and steel age in an exemplary way. Today, the
UNESCO World Heritage Site Zollverein is the biggest tourist attraction in the region and symbol for the successful
change of an industrial area into an attractive culture, leisure and business location.
Worth seeing: Denkmalpfad ZOLLVEREIN®, Ruhr Museum, art, culture, and events
About 1.5 million guests (2011–2014) visit the Zollverein World Heritage every year to join a guided tour of the
Denkmalpfad ZOLLVEREIN®, the above-ground facilities of the coal mine and coking plant preserved in their
original condition, visit the Ruhr Museum or enjoy the varied art and cultural events offered every day. The
ZOLLVEREIN® Concerts series impresses with top-class music events in historic industrial spaces. Additionally, the
great variety of possible leisure activities – e.g. ZOLLVEREIN® Park, the works swimming pool and the ZOLLVEREIN®
ice rink – attract visitors and local residents to the World Heritage Site. Local agencies such as the Bürger- und
Verkehrsverein im Stadtbezirk VI – Zollverein e.V. offer package deals for visits to the World Heritage Site. The
2015/2016 Sales Guide, which informs about the entire tourist spectrum at the UNESCO World Heritage Site
Zollverein, is a service for group tour operators.
Furthermore, the Zollverein World Heritage Site has been repeatedly awarded as Germany’s best event
location. On a total event area of 14,000 square metres, ZOLLVEREIN® Convention, the pool of event location
providers based at Zollverein, offers impressive halls and rooms for unforgettable events, meetings or private
celebrations.
Industrial history of superlatives
German industrial and economic history was made at Zollverein: the coal mine with its mainly automated
workflows was regarded as the largest and most efficient one in the world. Between 1847 and 1986, a total of 220
million tons of coal was extracted, up to 8,000 miners worked in shifts above and below ground. Fritz Schupp
(1896–1974) and Martin Kremmer (1894–1945) had been commissioned with the design of the coal mine
complex. A completely streamlined mining facility should be implemented at the new Zollverein Shaft XII. From
the beginning, the result was regarded as a technical and aesthetic masterpiece of modernism. The Zollverein
Coking Plant was built in the same style west of Shaft XII between 1957 and 1961 and taken into operation on
12 September 1961. It was active until 1993.
page 1 of 3
Delia Bösch / Leiterin Kommunikation und Marketing / Pressesprecherin
Fon +49 201-246 81-120 / Fax +49 201-246 81-133 / [email protected]
Stiftung Zollverein / Bullmannaue 11 / 45327 Essen / [email protected] / www.zollverein.de
Vorstand: Hermann Marth (Vorsitzender) / Jolanta Nölle / Vorsitzender des Stiftungsrates: Dr. Dietrich Goldmann
Conservation through conversion
The Zollverein Coal Mine was closed down in 1986 as the last of 291 collieries in Essen, once the largest mining
city in Europe. Shortly after this event, the unique ensemble of mining architecture was put under a preservation
order and the refurbishment of the facilities was commenced in the following year. The preservation of Zollverein
was part of the International Building Exhibition (IBA) Emscher Park, a ten-year future programme (1989-1999) by
the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. In 1997, Design Zentrum NRW already moved into the former boiler house,
which had been converted by British architect Norman Foster.
The declaration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 was the starting signal for the further development of
the overall site: in 2001/2002, architect Rem Koolhaas and his Rotterdam-based Office for Metropolitan
Architecture developed the master plan for the conversion of the industrial area into a lively culture and
business location. The conversion and expansion of the Coal Washery into the RUHR.VISITORCENTER Essen and
exhibition area for the Ruhr Museum as well as the construction of the new SANAA Building were implemented
as first measures until 2010. In the same year, about 100,000 guests celebrated the opening of the European
Capital of Culture Year RUHR.2010 at the Zollverein World Heritage Site.
Structural change as an opportunity
Today, Zollverein stands for the Ruhr area’s identity-generating culture of remembering and simultaneously for
a future-oriented location development. The Red Dot Design Museum, the Performing Arts Choreographische
Zentrum NRW (PACT) and artists’ studios as well as just under 40 young enterprises now occupy the former
operations buildings. The development potential is unbridled: until summer 2017, the new building for the
Design Department of the Folkwang University of the Arts will be implemented on the former stockyard at
Shaft 1/2/8. Furthermore, a new hotel will be ready for occupation by the end of 2017.
The start of construction works for the planned new building of RAG AG on the coking plant premises is
scheduled for the middle of 2015. RAG MI, a subsidiary of RAG, already moved into its company headquarters
at the coking plant in 2012 – the initial spark for the development of the coking plant area as a sustainable
business location according to the master plan by Rem Kohlhaas. Between the conflicting poles of existing
structures and fresh ideas, the unique industrial architecture is preserved and simultaneously adapted to the
varied requirements of the creative industry: the first tenant – the expanding product development office
MMID from Essen – shall move into the comb-shaped building at the coking plant by the end of 2015. A new
milestone will also be set for the future development of this area as an event location. The new Convention
Hall in the former suction and compressor hall shall commence operations in 2015/2016. Providing a floor area
of 5,000 square metres, it will be among the largest event locations in the Ruhr area.
page 2 of 3
Delia Bösch / Leiterin Kommunikation und Marketing / Pressesprecherin
Fon +49 201-246 81-120 / Fax +49 201-246 81-133 / [email protected]
Stiftung Zollverein / Bullmannaue 11 / 45327 Essen / [email protected] / www.zollverein.de
Vorstand: Hermann Marth (Vorsitzender) / Jolanta Nölle / Vorsitzender des Stiftungsrates: Dr. Dietrich Goldmann
Dates 2015 (selection)
until 16.8.2015
“Steinreich. Mineralogie im Ruhr Museum”, mineralogy exhibition at the Ruhr
Museum
27.3.–30.8.2015
“Beginnings of the Ruhr Region. Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages along the
Rhine und Ruhr“, exhibition at the Ruhr Museum
30.3.–10.4.2015
Easter holiday programme for children, Ruhr Museum
17.5.2015
International Museum Day at the Ruhr Museum / Vivawest Marathon
29.–31.5.2015
contemporary art ruhr (C.A.R.) 2015, media art fair
2.6.2015
Piano Festival Ruhr: Rafał Blechacz & Amsterdam Sinfonietta
3.–6.6.2015
Ruhr Games
7.6.2015
World Heritage Day
20.6.2015
ExtraSchicht Die Nacht der Industriekultur (Night of Industrial Heritage)
27.6.–16.8.2015
Works swimming pool
29.6.–7.8.2015
ZOLLVEREIN® Holidays – summer holiday programme of the Ruhr Museum and
Denkmalpfad ZOLLVEREIN®
29.6.–23.8.2015
“Dauernde, nicht endgültige Form“ - „Enduring, not ultimate form“, 60 years of
design history in Essen – from “Industrieform” to Red Dot (joint exhibition by
Ruhr Museum and Red Dot Design Museum)
20.–23.8.2015
“Gourmetmeile” Ruhr Metropolis
12.9.2015
Welterbelauf ZOLLVEREIN® (World Heritage Run)
26.–27.9.2015
26. Großes Zechenfest (Great Coal Mine Festival)
autumn 2015
Türöffnertag Sendung mit der Maus (Open Day for Children)
30.10.–1.11.2015
5.12.2015–3.1.2016
contemporary art ruhr (C.A.R.) 2015, the innovative art fair
ZOLLVEREIN ® ice rink
Further information: www.zollverein.de
Zollverein Foundation: Structure and Responsibilities
Zollverein Foundation is an institution with a comparatively short but important tradition: for more than 15
years, it has promoted culture and the monument preservation at the Zollverein Coal Mine and Coking Plant.
Since 2010, the Foundation has been the owner of the World Heritage area comprising the former Zollverein
Coal Mine and Coking Plant. The foundation’s activities primarily focus on the preservation, rehabilitation and
opening of this unique industrial monument to the general public. Zollverein Foundation, a non-profit
organisation, was established in November 1998 by the City of Essen and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia,
whereas Landschaftsverband Rheinland is a donor. The purpose and objectives of the foundation are the
preservation of the World Heritage, the promotion of culture as well as the development of Zollverein as an
international culture and business location.
page 3 of 3
Delia Bösch / Leiterin Kommunikation und Marketing / Pressesprecherin
Fon +49 201-246 81-120 / Fax +49 201-246 81-133 / [email protected]
Stiftung Zollverein / Bullmannaue 11 / 45327 Essen / [email protected] / www.zollverein.de
Vorstand: Hermann Marth (Vorsitzender) / Jolanta Nölle / Vorsitzender des Stiftungsrates: Dr. Dietrich Goldmann