Association for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in the Federal Republic of Germany, guest appearance in Zagreb City Museum
Exhibition creator: Axel Föhl
Design: Petra Götting
Croatian language graphic layout: Bilić_Müller Design Studio
Poster design: Bilić_Müller Design Studio
Exhibition coordinator: Goran Arčabić
A guest exhibition to be presented by the Association for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in the Federal Republic of Germany, “New uses in old industrial buildings” at the Zagreb City Museum hopes to use foreign experiences in industrial heritage to provide models of practice that can be applied today.
This exhibition celebrates 40 years of protecting industrial heritage by the Association for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in the Federal Republic of Germany. The historical development and heritage characteristics of 33 converted industrial and factory buildings, along with their adjoining facilities and complexes, are presented for the first time in this exhibition.
The exhibition presents a history of the redevelopment of some buildings that are icons of modern architecture, Gropius’s work at the Fagus Factory in Alfeld being one of them. The successful conversion of the Ruhr Valley Thyssen Steelworks in Duisburg to a recreation and leisure area, is a successful example of transforming post-industrial landscapes. Also included is the ‘museumization’ of the military complex that carries the historical burden of Nazism: throughout the 30’s and 40’s the military base near the village of Peenemünde was the testing ground for the V2 Rocket (the first ballistic missile).
The numerous examples of industrial conversions in urban areas (Berlin, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt on Main and Magdeburg) should hopefully stimulate domestic urban planners, architects and local government representatives. The significant increase in private investors involved in the conservation and conversion of industrial heritage within Germany, as exemplified by the likes of Bad Segeberg, Bochum, Halle and Völklingen, can provide a roadmap to Croatian entrepreneurs and public companies alike.
Goran Arčabić
Pictures from the exhibition
photo Miljenko Gregl, ZCM
Exhibition catalogue
Föhl, Axel. Neuer Nutzen in alten Industriebauten : Vierzig Jahre Industriedenkmalpflege in Deutschland.
Wiesbaden : Vereinigung der Landesdenkmalpfleger in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Arbeitsgruppe Industriedenkmalpflege, 2008
