Zollverein : Preservation through conversion

© Jochen Tack - Zollverein

• Attractiveness of the territory • Economic development • Economic growth • Tourism • Urban regeneration • Access to culture

Context The region is an located in North -Westphalia, . The largest cities in the area are , , and . The area’s economy has been based mainly on industry and exports, as many companies have their facilities in the region. The Ruhr area is the third largest conurbation in after the Greater London and regions and obviously faced a restructuration challenge when its heavy industry declined in the 1980s and 1990s. One particular example is the Zollverein industrial complex in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, which consists of the complete infrastructure of a historical coal-mining site and coking plant, with some 20th-century buildings of outstanding architectural value. It constitutes remarkable material evidence of the evolution and decline of an essential industry over the past 150 years. It was inscribed into the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites since 2001. For decades starting in the late 1950s, the two parts of the site, Zollverein Coal Mine and Zollverein Coking Plant, ranked among the largest of their kinds in Europe. Shaft 12, built in New Objectivity style between 1928 and 1932, is considered an architectural and technical masterpiece, earning a reputation as the “most beautiful coal mine in the world”. The strategy for the mine’s preservation focuses on a responsible redevelopment of the buildings for the purpose of culture and design, entertainment and tourism, implemented by the Zollverein Foundation. These priorities were set out in the “North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) ERDF Objective 2 Programme 2000-06”, in which the “successful renewal of old (industrial sites) and setting-up of new infrastructures (innovation and technology centres, training facilities)” is mentioned as highly important. Out of €970 million in the programme’s structural funds, €61 million was allocated to the redevelopment of Zollverein park (Construction stages 1-3: €24.691.000). Furthermore, the strategy paper “Essen and the Ruhr Area: The development of tourism and the role of small firms and entrepreneurs 2010” identifies culture and (industrial) heritage as priorities for city tourism and the area’s sustainable development. Zollverein The Zollverein project is one interesting example of the Challenges transformation of industrial heritage from a liability into a major asset. The area’s industrial past and its The main challenges tackled by the Ruhr region legacy in terms of heritage have been understood initiative were: and celebrated as living history and a place for • de-industrialisation; contemporary culture and creative production. • unemployment caused by the shutting down of Today it acts as a heritage and CCI site, hosting a Zollverein and decline of the heavy industry; university department, a modern museum, visitor and exhibition facilities, stage performances, international • danger of Zollverein’s premises’ demolition: as festivals and other events, and a business park with a workplace Zollverein led to the establishment incubation facilities focused on design and creative of six working-class and was thus an industries. important factor driving urban development in Essen and the surrounding towns. The World Heritage Site Zollverein consists of three main areas: the Zollverein Shaft XII, the Shafts 1/2/8 and the coking plant premises, totalling almost 100 hectares. The , the Portal of Industrial Heritage (multimedia-based presentations and innovative information terminals showing the anchor points of the Route of Industrial Heritage with their former and current use) and the Denkmalpfad Zollverein (sites preserved in their authentic form) are some of the sites within the park accessible to the public, where guided tours also take place. The World Heritage Site Zollverein has also emerged as a cultural centre, gathering CCIs under the same roof and hosting several events. Some examples are PACT Zollverein (a centre for performing arts, visual arts, media, theatre and music), Red Dot Design Museum (world’s largest contemporary art exhibition) as well as iconic projects by designers, artists and architects © Jochen Tack - Stiftung Zollverein (such as the SANAA building, La Primavera, the Palace of Projects). The Zollverein Park with almost 70 hectares offers facilities for leisure activities, such as a swimming pool, ice-skating rink, industrial nature, restaurants and cafes. This initiative illustrates an effective use of EU structural funds and regional support to contribute to regional development through CCIs. The site has been one of the main drivers for the transformation of the Ruhr region into the Ruhr metropolis, in a 20-year process that was celebrated in 2010 when Essen in the Ruhr was awarded the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) title.

© Jochen Tack - Stiftung Zollverein Duration Zollverein’s refurbishment and conversion measures date back to 1990 but the full structural renewal was basically completed in 2010. Interventions are still ongoing in some areas of the site, in particular the redevelopment of buildings on the area of the Coking Plant and a new building for the Folkwang University of the Arts on Shaft 1/2/8. Budget and financing Impact The Zollverein project showcases how regenerating an The EU, the federal government, the State of North industrial heritage site and turning it into a sustainable Rhine-Westphalia, the city of Essen, and the Region- contemporary cultural area can contribute to local alverband Ruhr/Association of the Ruhr Area (RVR) development by stimulating creative businesses, have spent almost €316 million on land preparation, creating new jobs (1,000 new jobs and 170 enterprises maintenance and conversion measures for buildings – 70% of which in the creative sector – have been and facilities (1990-2014). In particular, €60 million created), and attracting visitors (Zollverein attracts have been invested by the ERDF for the transforma- 1.5 million visitors per year (2011-2014), generating tion of the Zollverein site. a gross turnover of €68.4 million and safeguarding through tourism almost 1,500 jobs in the hospitality sector) and investment. Investment in Zollverein (overhaul, maintenance, operation) contributes to the strengthening of the (particularly medium-sized) local and regional economy and safeguards jobs. Approximately €11 million of VAT and €1.5 million in pro rata wage and income tax as well as business and real estate tax arising from Zollverein tourism are recouped in public finances. Zollverein has consistently garnered awards as best event location in Germany (CONGA-Award); in 2012, more than 700 events took place in the event halls, 210 of them in halls owned by the Zollverein Foundation. Zollverein enjoys an international reputation as a design location (Red Dot Design Museum/Red Dot Design and Red Dot Communication Award) and numerous awards have been given to the rejuvenated buildings.

Tips

© Jochen Tack - Stiftung Zollverein © Jochen Tack - Stiftung Zollverein Transferability Success factors: Tips • Successful cooperation among creative Develop interactions between cultural professionals and the region contributes to activity and the economy, as it may create designing a meaningful project for both parties. new concepts and stimulate new perceptions • The extraordinary facilities of the former of the nature of culture itself. Zollverein coal mine and coking plant give a Integrate local assets in your strategic unique edge to the region. development: industrial heritage was • Strong financial support over time made the established as part of cultural heritage in the project possible. region. The enormous size of the Zollverein called for Develop strong cooperation between local special coordination and hefty investment. authorities to facilitate access to the site and develop synergies across the regions (route of industrial heritage). Management level and partners The Zollverein Foundation, established and financed by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Sustainability is the owner of essential parts of the property and responsible for the management and sustainable The Zollverein Foundation received funding to cover development of the World Heritage property. The the costs from the state and federal governments as Foundation acts in cooperation with the regional and well as grants from the Ruhr Regional Association local historic monument conservation authorities. (RVR) and other funding bodies in the remarkable The management system consists of a set of amount of almost €316 million in total. Furthermore, maintenance and conservation measures. it is now partly self-financed by the income generated by activities that take place on the World Heritage Site Different parts of the nominated area are owned Zollverein. In 2014, the main revenue streams came by both public and private bodies: NRW.URBAN from rentals, management fees and tourism-related Service GmbH RAG AG and Regionalverband Ruhr activities. RVR. Application of the legislation is supervised by the provincial Ministry of Employment, Social and Together with its partners the Zollverein Foundation Urban Development, Culture and Sport, working with is looking for new projects and investors for the future the municipal authorities of Düsseldorf and Essen. in order to sustainably support the preservation of Direct management is the responsibility of the non- the World Heritage Site Zollverein. profit foundation Stiftung Zollverein. A “Craftsmen’s Guild,” analogous to those at the great cathedrals, has been set up by the town of Essen and the Regional Development Company to carry out regular maintenance and provide training in conservation practices and techniques.

Links : Contact : www.zollverein.de Stiftung Zollverein, Bullmannaue 11, 45327 Essen, Germany www.whc..org/en/list/975 [email protected]

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