Gas holders, also known as gasometers or gas bells, are a common sight in areas of gas production or use. The Wikipedia entry has a lot of technical details for those wanting more information, but suffice it to say that some gas holders are still in use today. Not so much for storing gas as having gas online, city mains supply, always at the right pressure. For those structures that have been decommissioned, the issue of contaminated grounds has been critical for any conversions. Those that are deemed safe are turned into exhibition spaces – such as the one you’re about to visit on your Western Contrasts Tour in Oberhausen – event centres, living quarters and even a shopping mall!
Oberhausen is home to the tallest one in Europe at 117.5m high and has been open for exhibitions since 1994. Even though the exhibition space is restricted to the bottom 4.5 meters of the building, the rest of the structure can be explored via a glass panorama lift, lifts and stairs leading to the top. From up there a unique panoramic view of the whole of the western river Ruhr can be enjoyed which, during clear weather, extends over 35 kilometres.
Author: Petra Alsbach-Stevens
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