Engelskirchen

The Engelskirchen Town Hall. Had the architects not independently investigated possibles uses of the former factory buildings, a conventional housing development would have replaced this historic complex. After a long and complicated planning phase, the empty factory (built in the 19th century, partly destroyed in world war II, partly rebuilt in a simpler style and closed in 1978) was remodeled as part of a civic center. In this case, the old structures were used as raw material for a new concept, requiring problematic, but ultimately approved, altera-

tions of listed buildings. The town hall is housed in an 1837 spin-ning mill with brick walls and cast-iron skeleton: the top floor was removed and three openings were made in the upper two floors to provide natural interor lighting.An equally old doubling mill has been totally remodeled into a multi-purpose structure with a steel skeleton replacing the original timbering. The buil-ding now houses exhibition space and apartments.

(Das Rathaus Engelskirchen. Baumeister 6/1986)

Industriemuseum

Technologiezentrum Moers