In the early 1990s, an engineering
and design firm Latz along with its partners transformed an industrial site
located at Duisburg-Meiderich, Germany into an extraordinary stunning public
recreation place which was later named as
Landschaftspark, or “landscape park. Most of the part of existing site
was preserved. Shady groves and flourishing meadows were added in the place of
extremely dirty sticky plants. Footpaths and bridges were constructed to add
fascination. The contaminated water was supplanted by clean water. A huge
festival place which can host the fifty thousand people at a time took place of
boring industrial views.
Transformation of Industrial Sites As Fascinating Parks
Transformation of Industrial Sites As Fascinating Parks
Image credit: (L) saiko3p/Shutterstock.com, (R) Peeradontax / Shutterstock.com
Transformation of Industrial Sites As Fascinating Parks
This was not a new project
which replaced the degenerated industrial place into the fresh aired hygienic
site. One such project was built in the era of Napoleon III, in the late
nineteenth century. In northeastern Paris, the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont was
originally the place of gibbetting and hanging traitors and criminals. The
place was turned into the junkyard and later was transformed in sewage
depository and horse skeleton cutting after the revolution of 1789. Some part
of the site was being used for the digging/mining purpose of limestone and
gypsum. The architect JC Alphard then restructured the site entirely by varying
the landscape and digging a lake. The idea was not to format the antique
qualities but to refurnish them only. A bridge was also constructed to grasp
the eye-catching view of the lake.
Another such park was constructed in
1975 at Seattle. The site was covered for a gasification plant manufacturing
coal gas, tar, sulfur and charcoal. In 1956, the 19-acre land was of no use
after shutting down the plant. The city acquired the land and transformed it
into the beautiful Gas Work Park. The same iron structure was transformed into
the fascinating play areas. A complete picnic shelter having tables and fire
grills was made from the little tear and care of boiler house, and an open-air
play barn for the children was made from the exhauster-compressor. The boilers
were covered with the greenery for adding more charm.
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. Image credit: frlegros / Shutterstock.com
Ferropolis, a famous open-air museum
in Germany, is also one of such projects. The site of Ferropolis located at the
city of Gräfenhainichen , was basically an open-cast mine which was having the
five giant industrial machines, each gauging up to 30 meters high and 130 meter
long. The mine stopped working in 1990s, and the site was left for the open air
museum surrounded by tremendous history of the industrial framework. The site
is now a days a popular locations for music gala, opera and concerts. The
lighting on the machinery creates a wow-factor in the fun functions
Europe is not the only region where
examples of such projects can be seen, other regions have also transformed
their industrial places into the great recreational places. In Oberhausen, a
gasometer was transformed into the exhibition hall. In Vienna, the gasometers were
turned into the apartments where people are residing. In London, a power
station has been converted into the famous Tate Modern Art Gallery.
The public park Landschaftspark in Duisburg-Meiderich, Germany. Image credit: mini_malist/Flickr
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