Gasometer Oberhausen

During the 1920s, the coal and steel industry in the Ruhrgebiet generated blast furnace gas and coal gas as by-products of iron production and coking. These gases were used extensively by steelworks and coking plants, though fluctuations in supply and demand often led to inefficiencies: excess gas was occasionally flared off, while shortages required purchasing alternative fuels. To address this, the Gasometer Oberhausen was constructed as a buffer storage facility, enabling surplus gas to be stored and released when demand exceeded production. World War II and reconstruction The Gasometer sustained repeated bomb damage during World War II but remained operational. During an Allied artillery bombardment, the stored gas ignited without causing an explosion, allowing the pressure disc to descend gradually as the gas burned. Operations officially ceased on 31 December 1944. A fire during repairs on 10 June 1946 led to its complete disassembly, though reconstruction began in 1949 using the original pressure disc and roof. The Gasometer resumed operations by 1 June 1950. ==Exhibitions==

Fire & Flame (1994–1995) This exhibition documented the history of the coal and iron industry in the Ruhr area and its societal impact. It attracted approximately 460,000 visitors. I Phoenix (1996) A contemporary art exhibition, I Phoenix drew 96,000 attendees. this installation by Christo and Jeanne-Claude featured a 68-meter-wide, 26-meter-high stack of 13,000 multicolored oil barrels weighing 234,000 kg. It drew 390,000 visitors. this installation used 20,350 m2 of translucent fabric and 4,500 meters of rope to create a 90-meter-high, 50-meter-wide inflated structure pressurized at 27 pascals above ambient. Visitors entered via airlocks to explore the interior. The Appearance of Beauty (2014–2015) Displaying nearly 200 artworks, from the Venus de Milo to Steve McCurry's Afghan Girl, the exhibition attracted 480,000 visitors. The Call of the Mountains (2018-2019) Collaborating with the German Aerospace Center, the exhibition explored mountain ecosystems and geology. A 17-meter inverted Matterhorn model, suspended 100 meters high, served as a projection surface for climbing routes and time-lapse visuals. The Fragile Paradise (2021-2023) Highlighting humanity's impact on nature during the Anthropocene, the exhibition used award-winning photographs and videos to trace Earth's climatic history. Planet Ocean (2024) Opening in March 2024, this exhibition explores marine ecosystems. Its centerpiece, "The Wave," is a 40-meter-tall digital installation by Austria's Ars Electronica, simulating underwater environments with life-sized marine creatures. ==References==