Reclaiming lost spaces

Over more than two decades, the Emscher restoration project has transformed a straightened, polluted sewage channel – the ‘Köttelbecke’ – into a vibrant river landscape. Today, the Emscher flows once again for 83 kilometres through newly developed cultural areas, past derelict industrial sites that are now emerging as places for living, working, leisure, culture and tourism. Extensive cycle and walking paths connect the new river landscape from source to mouth. The wastewater is now collected and discharged entirely underground.

This transformation of an entire region shows what is possible when building culture, ecological responsibility and regional cooperation go hand in hand. ASTOC not only shaped the overarching planning, but also enabled the municipalities and districts involved to recognize and exploit the opportunities arising from the infrastructure measure, not only in their own districts, but above all as a network.

We work on many levels, setting processes in motion and moderating them. We network municipalities, associations, clubs and citizens to enable collaborative action. This results is projects that go beyond traditional planning. They cultivate spaces for art, culture, leisure and encounters. Taking the Emscher region as an example, there are now around 200 projects that have been and are being implemented by numerous institutions, associations and clubs. We have the stamina to think up, initiate and support major projects with many participants and to place them in local hands.