World Architecture Community has released its sixth exclusive documentary on the transformation of an industrial area into the Emscher Park in Germany, as part of WAC's exclusive Life & Architecture series which was announced on April 23, 2020.

The Internationale Bauausstellung Emscher Park (IBA Emscher Park), also known International Architecture Exhibition Emscher Park, was redeveloped by The International Building Exhibition (IBA) to convert German Ruhr region into a mixed-use of programs, expanding the area's capacity with social, cultural and new ecologic ideas between 1989 and 1999. In plans, almost two of the galleries at one side were restored and put into service. 

The redevelopment plan includes the transformation of the boiler house of the Zollverein mine in Essen into the German Design Centre by Norman Foster, as part of the IBA Emscher Park. The IBA later turned the Zollverein Coal Mine into an object of industrial archeology. The Emscher Park was completed in May 1999.

The IBA strategically followed 7 general principles in the redevelopment plans: Reconstruction of landscape – the Emscher Landscape Park, ecological restoration of the river Emscher system, Rhein-Herne Canal – an adventure space, industrial cultural heritage as national treasure, working in the park, new forms of houses and housing and new options for social, cultural and sports activities.

WAC has launched Life & Architecture documentary series to give a detailed and in-depth look at many key buildings of contemporary architecture. The exclusive documentaries, captured from the 1990s, present an outstanding virtual journey throughout the buildings. 

Each documentary or episode features the buildings' distinctive features and the design stories of such important commissions narrated with exclusive interviews with architects, commissioners of the projects and project leaders. 

As the documentaries had been recorded for a Turkish television in 1990s, all the videos are presented in Turkish language but featuring English subtitles. However, the series are not outdated, on the contrary, these documentaries have a very high archive value to recapture the essence of the buildings. 

WAC's new episode covers the support of architectural conservation, development and housing during the redevelopment of a derelict industrial belt in Emscher Park, Germany, for art and social functions.

WAC will be releasing a new documentary each week on Fridays. WAC's new documentary will be posted on Friday, June 12, 2020 on the website and on WAC's Vimeo page.

WAC's sixth documentary: IBA Emscher Park, Germany

WAC Life & Architecture credits:
Presenter: Özlem Gürses, Editor
Technical Director: Andreas Treske

Stay tuned for a new documentary!

Image © WAC