Haldenereignis Emscherblick

Bottrop

Because of its location and height, the Batenbrock slag heap is already a regional landmark: Located in Bottrop, in an area of 33 hectares and with slag piled 65 metres high, the look-out tower, accessible by foot, is in the form of an oversized tetrahedral pyramid with an edge length of 60 metres. The structure affords unparalleled views of the surrounding industrial landscape, the neighbouring and still operational Prosper coking plant as well as of a slag heap that has been converted to an Alpine centre. And likewise, the intricate pyramidal structure with its night-time illumination attracts the gaze of all those in its vicinity.

The project is an example of how new orientation points and recreational landscapes can be created through the use of art on slag heaps. Other slag heaps where similar projects have been undertaken include Rheinelbe with its ‘Himmelstreppe’ or stairway to heaven, Schurenbach with the ‘Bramme für das Ruhrgebiet’ [‘Slab for the Ruhr’] and Schwerin with its huge sun dial. These landscape constructions are open to the public.

Created between 1963 and 1980 with waste from the nearby Prosper II pit, the now partly grassed over and steeply terraced Batenbrock is located on land formerly used for agriculture.

The entire ’Haldenereignis Emscherblick’ project, as part of IBA Emscher Park, included design seminars, several competitions and numerous coordination meetings on the potential design of the slag heap. The intricate, 50-metre tall pyramid, devised by Professor Wolfgang Christ and Klaus Bollinger, accentuates the artificiality of the slag heap as a rigorously sloped and uniform heap. The steel construction, with three suspended and effectively transparent look-out platforms and resting over the ground on four 8-metre tall columns, appears from afar to be hovering. The pyramid is lit at night using artist Jürgen LIT Fischer's ’Fraktal’ illumination concept. Light from geometrically shaped light tubes is reflected off mirrors, transforming the pyramid into an expansive light symbol. An artificial fire at the artificial peak of an artificial mountain. Visitors reach the pyramid via a 387-step staircase or switchback footpaths. The look-out tower is off limits in the winter months. Nevertheless, a visit to the slag heap is worth the trip: it's a landmark on the Route der Industriekultur [Industrial Heritage Trail].