Ferris wheel avant la lettre: Zeche Zollverein by Rob van Esch

About "Ferris wheel avant la lettre: Zeche Zollverein"

by Rob van Esch

About the artwork

The Zeche und Kokerei Zollverein industrial complex in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2001, is considered one of the most impressive industrial monuments in the world. Since the last crew laid off work in 1986, the Zollverein has been transformed into a place for art, culture and creativity, attracting more than two million visitors annually.
In its active industrial period, the Zeche Zollverein was the largest coal mine in the world and its coking plant was unique in size for Europe. In addition to its extraordinary size, the architecture of the Zollverein complex is also very special - not for nothing is the Zollverein also called the most beautiful mine in the world. The buildings are examples of the design concepts of the Modern Movement, applied to architecture in a totally industrial context. The industrial complex was one of the most modern coal mines in the world during the time it was in active use, this was from the mid-19th century until the mine closed in 1986. Zollverein is tangible evidence of the rise and fall of heavy industry over the past 150 years.

This photograph shows a detail of the coking plant. By choosing monochromatic colors for the building and repeating them in the evening sky, the photographer creates an almost abstract image and emphasizes the beautiful architecture.