Industrial culture

An important element in the structural change of the Ruhr area is the rediscovery of its own past. The examination of the industrial history, and thus the genesis of the region, led inevitably to an examination of its architectural witnesses. At the beginning of this examination, the significance of these witnesses as symbols of the decline was negatively perceived by the public. Demolition was a frequent demand, with the aim of eliminating the region’s ‘dirty history’.
In order to redefine the region’s architectural past as something of value, the term ‘industrial culture’ acquired a special meaning. The confirmation, examination and presentation of the circumstances enabled this history to be viewed from a different angle. The opening up and development of former industrial areas enabled new forms of public discussion to take place in situ.

Today, industrial culture is one of the region’s unique selling points, with particular value for tourism. Industrial halls have been transformed into exciting art and cultural sites, industrial machines have acquired sculptural attributes, sites of industrial labour and life have acquired a museum-like quality and ostensibly functional industrial architecture has acquired a new representative image as company headquarters. The industrial architecture plays a significant role in new forms of identification with the space, the region and the history.