Zollverein Assistance Centre

The Zollverein assistance centre is a building block in the re-usage concept for the former Zollverein coal mine
3/7/10. As part of the IBA Emscher Park, the historically protected buildings were put to new use and enhanced with new construction. A municipal “craftsmen’s” park was built, maintaining the site’s unmistakeable character with its historic industrial structures, large green spaces and mixture of local and urban uses.
In building the new assistance centre, particular care was given to the choice of materials. The centre assimilates the trademarks of Zollverein: steel frame construction, red brick and a sloped roof were among the features re-interpreted in the building’s design. The complex consists of three buildings: a nursing home, a residential home for mentally ill senior citizens and a multi-purpose building that provides space for a therapy centre, administrative offices and a cafeteria. The building concept thus creates serviceable areas allowing for decentralised organisation and up-to-date care. The modern floor-plan was designed to facilitate the cohabitation of the occupants in self-sufficient residential groups of six to twelve people. And the location of the nursing and residential home is ideal: its close proximity to the Essen-Katernberg and Essen-Schonnebeck neighbourhoods also allows the residents to participate in community life. At present around 90 residents live in the assistance centre.

Author: Route der Wohnkultur
Last changed on 31.03.2010

Categories:
Architecture » Public Buildings » Schools/Kindergartens/Nursing homes
Architecture » Residential buildings » Multiple Housing