Aktivkohle - Nachbarschaftshaus Zeche Zollverein

AKTIVKOHLE – Neighborhood House Zeche Zollverein:

The Zeche Zollverein in Essen is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site as an industrial monument, but with its various museums and creative spaces, it is also a cultural attraction far beyond the Ruhr region. It stands as a symbol of successful economic transformation. However, neither the colliery itself nor the adjoining new buildings like the SANAA Cube provide space for a social and cultural venue that benefits the local population.

For this reason, the neighborhood house is planned to be located in the second row from the street, but directly adjacent to the colliery grounds. As a Social Condenser it will complement the existing offerings with event and club rooms, a library, and generous public open spaces for local communities.

Since neither the power display of the colliery nor the iconography of the SANAA building truly serve the people, the new building was shaped by pathways and sightlines, making the spatial program itself the activator of the building. The spacious entrance area serves simultaneously as a foyer, access point, and meeting place. The event rooms interact with the open spaces of the colliery, while the club rooms are oriented towards the more private outdoor area behind the building, where communal spaces are provided. The center is an open plaza with large, theater-style seating stairs, which not only provides access to the library but also serves as a grandstand to the open space for communication and events. At its upper end it opens to the view across the colliery.

Above the center is the library, whose reading café with rooftop terrace, administration, and book collections are arranged around the open space that provides light for the plaza on the ground floor.

Cross Section

Longitudinal Section

Northwest View