Kokerei Hansa

The Hansa Coking Plant is the last of the 17 coking plants which were built during the rationalisation boom in the 1920s. It was part of an integrated system with the nearby colliery and steelworks. It was closed down in 1992 and is now part of the Industrienatur and Industriekultur routes. Visitors can walk around this gigantic sculpture and see the plants that have settled in various places.




Typical German




Similar to Zollverein, there are small plantings that clarify the route of tours.


Places throughout the site manifest different stages of plant succession, responding to the conditions present.



These last two photos show some of the subtle yet striking colour contrasts that are prevalent at the site. Structures that are in various stages of decay or made of slightly different material give off a different colour as well as plant species that locate themselves where conditions are most suitable .




The Poppy flower, which is mentioned in Gilles Clément's 'Manifeste du Tiers Paysage' -- "Il apparaît sur une terre retournée ou blessée. Pas ailleurs." (It appears on 'returned' or injured lands. Not elsewhere.)






Guided tours are available, however, unfortunately not in English or French...So I tagged around this bunch for awhile, but couldn't understand much of the guide's explanations.