Rem Koolhaas OMA - Coal Washing Plant Museum and Visitors Center

Nearing completion
Rem Koolhaas OMA
Coal Washing Plant
Museum and Visitors Center
Zollverein Mining Complex
Essen, Germany

Photo © Thomas Mayer

The Coal Washing Plant is part of the Zollverein Mining Complex, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Center in December 2001.

Photo © Thomas mayer

Photo: arcspace

The concept for the conversion of the Coal Washing Plant was drawn up in close collaboration with the curators and future users. It meets the highest architectural, climatic and safety requirements.
The draft is based on the existing buildings on the one hand and the spatial programs of the future users on the other.
The organisational core will be the Visitors Center at a height of 24 meters. After riding the 60-meter long escalator, leading through a “gangway” made of glass, visitors will reach the foyer high above the roofs of Zollverein, with a bird’s-eye view of the colliery.

Photo © Thomas Mayer

In contrast to the Visitor Center the exhibition areas, located underneath the 24-meter level, are not marked by machinery, but by the existing architecture.

Photo © Thomas Mayer

The huge machines of the coal washing plant, representing monuments of work, are part of the conversion concept.

Photo © Thomas Mayer

Opening in 2007, the new RuhrMuseum, a cultural-historical museum for the entire Ruhr Region, will also be located in the former Coal Washing Plant.

Photo: arcspace

Drawing courtesy OMA

The design exhibition ENTRY 2006, currently being installed, will open in the completed part of the Coal Washing Plant on August 26th.

Follow the project in Thomas Mayer’s archives

Completion: 2006

Client: Ministry for Culture, Sports and Housing of Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW) and development company Zech Zollverein
Architects: OMA
Partner-in-Charge: Floris Alkemade
Project Team:
Bart Cardinaal
Alex de Jong
Paz Martin
Johan De Wachter
Ziad Shehab

Associate Architect: Heinrich Böll Architekt BDA DWB Hans Krabel

arcspace feature
Rem Koolhaas OMA
Masterplan
Zollverein Mining Complex

Rem Koolhaas OMA arcspace features

August 7, 2006





				Features
		Nearing completion Rem Koolhaas OMA Coal Washing Plant Museum and Visitors Center Zollverein Mining Complex Essen, Germany Photo © Thomas Mayer The Coal Washing Plant is part of the Zollverein Mining Complex, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Center in December 2001. Photo © Thomas mayer Photo: arcspace The concept for the conversion of the Coal Washing Plant was drawn up in close collaboration with the curators and future users. It meets the highest architectural, climatic and safety requirements. The draft is based on the existing buildings on the one hand and the spatial programs of the future users on the other. The organisational core will be the Visitors Center at a height of 24 meters. After riding the 60-meter long escalator, leading through a “gangway” made of glass, visitors will reach the foyer high above the roofs of Zollverein, with a bird’s-eye view of the colliery. Photo © Thomas Mayer In contrast to the Visitor Center the exhibition areas, located underneath the 24-meter level, are not marked by machinery, but by the existing architecture. Photo © Thomas Mayer Photo © Thomas Mayer Photo © Thomas Mayer The huge machines of the coal washing plant, representing monuments of work, are part of the conversion concept. Photo © Thomas Mayer Opening in 2007, the new RuhrMuseum, a cultural-historical museum for the entire Ruhr Region, will also be located in the former Coal Washing Plant. Photo: arcspace Drawing courtesy OMA Drawing courtesy OMA Drawing courtesy OMA The design exhibition ENTRY 2006, currently being installed, will open in the completed part of the Coal Washing Plant on August 26th. Follow the project in Thomas Mayer’s archives Completion: 2006 Client: Ministry for Culture, Sports and Housing of Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW) and development company Zech Zollverein Architects: OMA Partner-in-Charge: Floris Alkemade Project Team: Bart Cardinaal Alex de Jong Paz Martin Johan De Wachter Ziad Shehab Associate Architect: Heinrich Böll Architekt BDA DWB Hans Krabel arcspace feature Rem Koolhaas OMA Masterplan Zollverein Mining Complex Rem Koolhaas OMA arcspace features August 7, 2006