Dortmund.
The city of Dortmund has bought back the Phoenix blast furnace. So far all attempts at development have failed. What will become of the steel giant?
Phoenix West has a long history – not only in terms of industrial history, but also in Dortmund’s urban development. Because while after the decommissioning of the Hörde steelworks all around a radiant technology center arose, the huge listed building slumbered blast furnace a.
2018 had the Dutch urban developer Walas bought the blast furnace including a large forecourt and “Switching House 101” (total 56,000 square meters). It should become a “centre of excellence with an international role model for innovation and sustainability”. A usage mix of technology, services, leisure and culture. Walas wanted 75 million euros invest.
But from the great vision was nothing – also because corona and des unexpected death by company founder Gerben van Straaten. Suddenly the steel giantess was back without a plan.
City buys from “Special Fund Technology Center”
That should change now: The City of Dortmund buys blast furnace, forecourt (“Baufeld 13”, i.e. former open-air cinema) and Switching house 101 back from Walas. But what exactly will come of it – that is still unclear. In addition, the city council still has to approve the purchase at its meeting on February 9th.
The area was bought via “Special Fund Technology Center Dortmund”. The TZDO has been represented on Phoenix since 2005, including with the Center for Micro and Nano Technology. “We were space pioneers and trendsetters,” says TZDO Managing Director Dirk Stürmer. “Now we want to develop the heart of the site.”
Blast furnace on Phoenix West: start and costs unclear
But first the team has to unite provide overview: Where are we standing? Which Walas ideas can be adopted? What uses are possible? That’s not easy, so striker: Phoenix West is a huge area with a lot of listed old stock, but also plenty of space for new buildings. In addition, the goals ambitious: Economic efficiency, meaningful conversion, additional new buildings, international perception, future technologies, leisure, monument protection – all this must be under one roof.
Begin: timely. Costs: not clear. Incidentally, the first ideas for using a blast furnace already existed in 2000.
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