SCIENCE CENTRES
The German Mining museum details the industry’s
development and includes a replica mine
As society and the work place changes,
so DASA’s staff are challenged with fi nd- ing creative ways of interpreting abstract concepts in a meaningful way. “We’re con- tinually thinking about how we can refl ect the trends and what metaphors we can use to present subjects like globalisation and the changes in demographics, such as Germany’s aging population,” says Horst. For example, he says they’re currently considering how to convey the issue of bul- lying. “We want to make people aware how bullying can harm themselves and others. We want to put visitors in a situation where they can experience the line between being a victim and an aggressor so they can refl ect on their behaviour afterwards.” Ideas for content generally come from the latest research. “We look into the research, distil what we need and work with design experts to fi nd the visual language to present the information,” says Horst. DASA attracts 180,000 visitors a year and has seen numbers rise during the economic downturn. However, competing with other leisure activities is a challenge for DASA, says Horst. “Financial support for the cultural sector is always under pressure and, in addition, we have to be attractive, entertaining, educational and value for money.” While he welcomes the region’s
European Capital of Culture status, consid- ering it to be favourable for all attractions in the Ruhr metropolis, he says it’s too early to tell how it will benefi t DASA. But the Ecsite conference is a differ- ent matter and Horst’s looking forward to showing off the exhibition to the industry.
“This is an opportunity to present DASA as an institution that’s capable of holding suc- cessful events of this scale.” ●
42
Many of the area’s former industrial sites have been transformed into vibrant attractions. An Industrial Heritage Trail now links more than 50 of these in a circular route measur- ing approximately 400km. These include:-
ZOLLVEREIN
Formerly one of the larg- est coal mines in Europe processing 12,000 tonnes of coal a day, Zollverein is now a UNESCO world herit- age site and a lively arts and cultural centre. The complex features a number of attractions including the Red Dot Design Museum, said to house one of the world’s largest exhibitions of contemporary design, the Ruhr Museum which hosts a permanent exhibi- tion on the region’s past and present, an art gallery and ice-skating rink. All these combine to attract approximately one million visitors a year.
GASOMETER
Since its decommissioning in 1998, the Gasometer has become a landmark for the city of Oberhausen and the region. In 2006, the Berlin
RUHR ATTRACTIONS ROUND-UP
artist Christina Kubisch designed the interior of the Gasometer to transform it into a gigantic sound and light sculpture known as the Light Sky. Today the gas storage facility hosts a variety of exhibitions and events including the Out of This World exhibition, which uses striking reproductions of the planetary system and images of the sun, the planets and their moons to present the birth and devel- opment of our solar system. The exhibition runs until the end of 2010.
GERMAN MINING MUSEUM
With 400,000 visitors annu- ally, the German Mining Museum in Bochum is one of the most visited muse- ums in Germany and also an acclaimed research institute for the history of mining and metallurgy. Twenty halls house exhibits including original machines and equipment to show the development of mining. A replica mine 17m (56ft) to 22m (72ft) below the museum aims to give visi- tors a real understanding of coal and iron ore mining up until modern times.
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DUISBERG-NORD LANDSCAPE PARK)
More than 10 years was spent transforming this former iron works, domi- nated by three tall blast furnaces, into a 200-hec- tare, multi-functional park. Visitors can climb to the top of the blast furnace for views of the surrounding countryside, take part in guided tours of the indus- trial plant, scuba dive in the diving centre in the old gasometer, scramble about in the climbing area in the former ore storage bunkers or visit one of the events on site.
THE AQUARIUS WATER MUSEUM
This 50m (164ft)-tall water tower is more than 100 years old and today uses multi-media to teach visitors everything about water, including where it comes from, how it circulates and its differ- ent forms. Housed on 14 fl oors, the museum offers a variety of family events such as treasure hunts through the museum, con- struction of a canal and bike trips in the surround- ing fi elds and woodlands.
AM 2 2010 ©cybertrek 2010
PHOTO: JOCHEN SCHLUTIUS
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