Architects: Ooze Architects
Area: 1263 m²
Year: 2013
Photographs: Roman Mensing
Structural Engineer: Reto Bonomo
Contractors: Tiggelovend, Kok, Zonlicht, Leo Kok, Gerrie Enninga, Jasper Vandermade, Stefanie Strauß
Design Team: Eva Pfannes, Sylvain Hartenberg, Augustin Roy-Verger
City: Oberhausen
Country: Germany
The Visitor Center Emscher Village, designed by Ooze Architects for Emscherkunst.2013, is a temporary structure made from repurposed shipping containers. The ground-level layout mimics a village path, creating social spaces both indoors and in open-air areas while keeping the site fully accessible. A path connects the Visitor Center to the Art Camp, with activities like bike rentals, cafes, shops, a cinema, and an artist village for art production and education. The path features diverse ground textures, while the roof offers shade and a unique spatial experience.
The temporary Visitors Center for Emscherkunst.2013, along with the Art Camp for local art associations, is constructed from repurposed overseas containers that accommodate the various programs.
By maintaining a ground-level layout and drawing inspiration from a village path, the design emphasizes not only the interior spaces but also the areas in between, whether sheltered by a roof or open to the air.
This approach creates diverse social spaces while maintaining full site permeability. Along the path, which stretches from the Visitors Center to the Art Camp and connects the Rhein Herne canal to Lindnerstrasse, various activities are integrated.
The journey through this village includes a sequence of activities, starting with bike rentals, information points, cafes, a shop, and a cinema, leading to the artist village with spaces for art production and education, and culminating at the artist-in-residence area.
The path is characterized by varying ground surfaces, including pallets, pebbles, gardens, and flower fields. The roof provides shade over the containers, creating sheltered spaces below and offering a dynamic spatial and chromatic experience.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Oberhausen, Germany
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
