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Foto: Jochen Tack / Stiftung Zollverein Foto: Bernadette Grimmenstein / TUP Essen

Im edlen Restaurant Casino Zollverein (18) wird neben sechs Meter hohen Betonsäulen gespeist. Das Theater (22) von • by Alvar Aalto wurde nach seinem Tod fertiggestellt, es ist das Opernhaus der Stadt.

I f residents of the Ruhr area show visitors their city, also find our office: in the office and commercial buil- the impressive escalator of the Coal Washery (15) (archi-
they certainly mention the sentence: “We also have
ding RüKONTOR (04), which we completed in 1996. You
tecture of the conversion: Rem Kohlhaas and Heinrich
beautiful corners...“. The same applies for Essen, where are cordially invited to enjoy a glass of Latte Macchiato Böll, 2008). It takes us to the Ruhr Museum featuring a
we – Axel Koschany and Wolfgang Zimmer – have been or a cup of tea and tell us, how much you enjoyed the collection focusing on the nature, culture and history of
jointly doing architecture since 1995. Together with our morning. Our shopping recommendation for the Rü: the Ruhr area. Between restored machines, we still breat-
employees, we have compiled a weekend in our city, design objects are available at the Vitra Store R (05) and he the air of coal mining. At Café Kohlenwäsche, you
where steel and coal have long disappeared but have creative unique copies from the region at should bring enough time for a cup of coffee and be
left behind exceptional traces and opportunities: in 2010, ‘Wohngemein schaft’ (06). Directly next door, you have inspired by small present ideas in the museum shop next
Essen was Europe’s Capital of Culture and in 2017, the the opportunity on Saturdays to experience genuine ori- door: pit salt, alluvial gold or Ruhr area coffee. A walk
city will be European Green Capital. On our tour, we will ginals from Essen – on the busy Rüttenscheider Markt across the premises gives you an idea of the enormous
show you a coal mine that were turned into World (07). The colourful weekly market with about 100 marke- scale of the facilities. Things to be discovered include –
Heritage Site, corporate headquarters of publicly traded teers has existed for 110 years – a real institution. design fans, watch out! – the Red Dot Design Museum
German companies, our Philharmonic Hall, where 16:00 – A visit to the Folkwang Museum (08) (architec- (16) (architecture of the conversion: Foster + Partner, 1997)
British conductor Sir Simon Rattle and his Berlin ture: David Chipperfield, 2010) is an absolute must. with the world’s largest exhibition on contemporary
Philharmoniker like to perform every year, and a Founded in 1902 in Hagen by patron of the arts Karl design. Definitely worth seeing is the SANAA Building
museum with spectacular collections of modern art. Ernst Osthaus, the son of a banker, the exhibition buil- (17), which is completely designed as a fair-faced concrete
ding played a pioneering role in the field of modern art structure (architecture: SANAA, 2006) with 134 window
Saturday: art, culture and shopping stroll in first half of the 20th century. Today, the museum, openings, which appear to have a random arrangement
which was relocated to Essen, accommodates an inter- but are exactly coordinated with the lighting situation in
10.00 – We start in the south, in the picturesque and nationally significant collection comprising painting, the interior. Originally planned as a private university, the
simultaneously lively Werden District in the Ruhr valley. sculpture, photography, graphics, media and poster art. building is now rented out for events.
Founded in 796, this is the place of Essen’s roots. People 19:00 – Check-in at the listed Heroldhaus (Emil Jung, 13:00 – It’s about time to sit down for lunch in the ele-
often think that the Ruhr area is identical with “the domi- 1955), a former office building dating from the 1950s. The gant Casino Zollverein Restaurant (18). Here, myth and
nance of industry and grey”? Not at all. We would like to offices were converted into hotel rooms – here, the design modernism are combined over traditional dishes like
show you how green and worth living in Essen and the hotel ‘Motel One’ (09) has pampered its guests 2012. ‘Pfefferpotthast’ and Essen’s Casino Bier.
region are. We start with a history-charged visit to the 20:00 – After an eventful day, we would like to slowly 14:00 – The new ThyssenKrupp Quartier (19) (architec-
“last Romanesque church of the Rhineland”, the impres- end the day in a relaxed fashion: What about the char- ture: Chaix & Morel et associeés and JSWD Architekten,
sive St. Ludgerus Basilica (01). Yes, Essen is situated in ming Restaurant Seitenblick (10) serving fresh and sea- 2010) is also worth a detour. Here, the global corporation
the Ruhr area. Officially, we are in the Rhineland. In 1275, sonal cuisine. Typically French and with Essen’s best had its new spectacular headquarters implemented. The
when the Cologne Cathedral in Gothic style was still wine list, the team of Rotisserie du Sommelier (11) revitalised ‘grüne mitte university quarters’ (20) invite
under construction, Essen’s first basilica was already con- attracts guests, while the chefs of the Tablo (12) interpret to enjoy a walk. Formerly an inner-city railway waste-
secrated. Directly next door, we find the marvellous Folk - a contemporary Turkish cuisine. land, the site is now a popular district for living, working
wang University of the Arts (02), Essen’s cultural land- 23:00 – You are still not tired? Then pay a visit to Essen’s and relaxing – an exciting example of converted industri-
mark. Pina Bausch, Benno Hoffmann and Frank Peter oldest cinema, the unique ‘Lichtburg’ (13). It was ope- al fallows in the Ruhr area. Our office is responsible for
Zimmermann studied here, in the Baroque palace of the ned in 1928 and with more than one thousand seats it is the PIER 78 (21) residential quarter dating from 2013. We
former Episcopal residence. The award-winning building Germany’s largest picture palace and still the venue of continue past the Philharmonic Hall, the Stadtgarten, the
of the Folkwang Library completes the ensemble. numerous premieres with stars and starlets. Aalto Theatre (22) (Alvar Aalto, design 1959, implemen-
12:00 – The cosy Café Werntges (03) is an institution in tation 1988) and the 127-metre high RWE Tower
Werden and its sumptuous cake buffet and fine bistro Sunday: Traces of the past Ingenhoven, Overdiek, Kahlen & Partner.
cuisine invites guests to linger. A place you should defi- 15:00 – Back to the Krupp Family, who have had a lasting
nitely visit is “Werntges Traumtorten” directly next door, 10.00 – Glück Auf! A miner’s greeting meaning “Good influence on the city: Villa Hügel (23) with the adjoining
offering wonderful small presents to take home. luck!”. We start our Sunday at the UNESCO World park illustrates the grand style the family used to live in.
13:00 – Feeling invigorated we set out for Rüttenscheid, Heritage Site of the Zollverein Coal Mine (14) (architectu- The mansion and the park can be visited. We want to
the trendy and creative district. Rüttenscheider Straße, re: Schupp and Kremmer, 1928-1932). It is an impressive end the weekend as idyllically as we started: walking
which is lovingly called “Rü”, provides a vivid mixture of industrial complex in the northern part of the once largest about along the Ruhr, we find the Jagdhaus Schellen -
cafés, restaurants, shops and studios between Flora - mining city in Europe. As the last of Essen’s 291 collieries, berg (24) – a picturesque half-timbered building dating
straße and Witteringstraße. This is the area where you Zollverein stopped the production of coal in 1986. We use from 1836 with a perfect view across the Baldeneysee.

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