PRESS RELEASE
08.09.2014
ENERGETICON in Alsdorf near Aachen
"Experiencing Energy, Understanding Energy" in the former Anna coal mine
"Experiencing Energy, Understanding Energy": From 8th September onwards, ENERGETICON in Alsdorf near Aachen is showcasing new ideas about energy and new emotional ways of looking at it. For what used to be the largest coking plant in western Europe, ATELIER BRÜCKNER has designed an interactive exhibition that covers an area of around 3,000 square metres and is dedicated not only to the fossil-fuel era but also to the age of regeneration. Located right in the middle of the town, the former bituminous coal mine, Anna, serves as the historical framework.
A clearly structured route, which features a wide variety of staged settings, takes the visitor over the extensive grounds with its outdoor installations, underground areas and the historical buildings, which include the forge, the hoisting machine house and the former workforce building, the coop. The starting and end point of the tour is an imposing, artistic solar installation in the forge. It surprises visitors and puts them emotionally in the right mood for the topic of energy as the theme. Directly next to this, they are presented with an overview of the most important fossil-fuels and renewable sources of energy, which are shown in a setting that would be just as appropriate for valuable treasures.
The route through the exhibition presents mining themes subtly integrated into the existing historical structures. Reconstructed living areas, highly expressive portraits and personal stories of individuals make it possible for visitors to gain an intuitive insight into the subject matter. A highpoint of the exhibition is an authentic changing room, the so-called ‘black coop‘, which has been left as it originally appeared. Around 700 metal baskets hang from the ceiling here and convey an impression of the size and importance of the first industrial centre for bituminous coal mining in Europe, where, in the good times, up to 8,000 miners used to work underground.
Contrasting with the historical architecture, diverse themes of the regenerative age are presented. The look into the future is underlined by means of expressive design elements. For example, an impressive, spatially dominant sculpture on the upper floor of the coop represents alternative forms of energy supply; hands-on exhibits and media installations have also been integrated. Renewable forms of energy can be experienced as alternatives to fossil fuels.
CONTACT
ATELIER BRÜCKNER GmbH
Claudia Luxbacher
Press and Public Relations
T. +49 711 5000 77 126
F. +49 711 5000 77 22
presse(at)atelier-brueckner.com
ENERGETICON GmbH
Konrad-Adenauer-Allee 7, 52477 Alsdorf
Harald Richter
Executive Director
T. +49 2404 599 11 11
F. +49 2404 599 11 19
harald.richter(at)energeticon.de
www.energeticon.de