For a long time, the Emscher was Germany’s dirtiest river. Now, however, it runs clear again. This volume documents the social and ecological restoration of the Emscher, which flows through the northern Ruhr area for 81 km. Used as a mining wastewater system during the industrial period, it has now been transformed into a new regional river landscape for the twenty-first century. Numerous opportunities for upgrading the overall region find their source in the renaturing of the river and its many backwaters: the restoration has created opportunities for renaturing and conversion, and provides a strong development axis for sustainable city and landscape planning. The overall strategy, key projects, accompanying materials, and regional political discussion around this comprehensive transformation are presented here with texts, plans, and images for the first time.
During industrialisation, the Seseke – a tributary of the Lippe – was straightened, dyked, and turned into an open sewage canal. Between the 98 s and 2 4, the Lippeverband restored the watercourse to its natural state as part of the " Seseke Programme" . This transformation was accompanied by an intercommunal art project entitled " Über Wasser gehen" , which took place on the river and its tributaries as part of RUHR.2 . Eleven artworks dealing with the ecological improvement of the river landscape and the restoration of nature have remained on the banks, which are now green again. It is possible to view them on walks and cycle tours between Lünen and Bönen. This volume introduces those works and offers a visual tour of the Seseke landscape. It also explores the interweaving of art and nature, and investigates the significance of art for ecological contexts. Landscape art, multimedia installations, sculptures and interactive art projects – an inter-communal art project on the Seseke watercourse invites you to observe the transformation of the river and experience the landscape in a new way With a contribution by Hartmut Böhme, who sheds light on the subject of water from a philosophical and cultural studies perspective
