Lauchhammer Bio-Towers

After the demolition of a 120-hectare industrial facility, today, the Lauchhammer Bio-Towers rise up as a final remaining relic of a green industrial wasteland. Refurbished as part of IBAIBA Internationale Bauausstellung see, they almost look like a medieval fortress, forming a unique backdrop for cultural events of all kinds.

In the 1950s, metallurgical coke was produced for the first time from lignite. An immense coking plant was built in Lauchhammer, resulting in large quantities of wastewater containing phenol. This water was biologically treated and purified with bacteria in a special plant, the Bio-Towers. These towers of the large-scale coking plant are the only reminder of this in the city of Lauchhammer. Virtually all other industrial plants have disappeared from the cityscape after the closure and demolition of the briquette factories, the power station and coking plant. The industrial culture was a key element of the new landscape for IBA see. In accordance with the motto “The future needs an origin”, particularly impressive testimonies to the region’s industrial history were to be preserved and repurposed.

Together with the monument protection authorities and many other stakeholders, the IBA embarked on a years-long struggle for the preservation of this unique identity-giving industrial monument. With success: A management body was found who immediately began with the refurbishment. The towers were equipped with two glass viewing platforms, that give visitors an overview of the expanse of the former coking plant. In 2008, the bio-towers were opened as an accessible industrial monument and event location. Today, the setting between the towers is used for performances, concerts and art installations.