This collection gathers examples of architectural rehabilitation where former industrial sites have been transformed into new spaces for living, culture, and gatherings. These projects illustrate how contemporary architecture can give a second life to structures that marked European and North American industrial history, while maintaining their original identity. Included are the Oberhausen Gasometer, a 117-meter gas holder converted into exhibition space, the Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam, an old coffee and tobacco factory turned cultural venue, and the High Line in New York, a 1930s elevated railway converted into a 2.3-kilometer urban park. The Zeche Zollverein complex in Essen showcases Bauhaus-style industrial architecture from the 1930s, while Strijp-S in Eindhoven, a former Philips production site, now hosts creative and technological studios. These sites demonstrate the possibilities offered by repurposing industrial heritage into accessible public spaces.
Paris, France
This six-floor building displays its technical infrastructure on the exterior facade with color-coded pipes and ducts, and houses a major collection of modern and contemporary art along with a public library.
London, United Kingdom
The Lloyd's Building displays its technical installations such as elevators, ventilation ducts and pipework on the exterior facade and uses a modular construction system of steel frames and glass panels.
Montreal, Canada
This residential complex consists of 354 identical concrete modules stacked in different combinations to create a total of 146 dwelling units.
Oberhausen, Germany
The Gasometer Oberhausen is a 117-meter industrial structure from 1929 that now serves as an exhibition space and includes an observation platform.
Eindhoven, Netherlands
This industrial complex was Philips Electronics main production site until 2002 and now houses art, technology and design studios.
Rotterdam, Netherlands
The industrial building, completed in 1931, processed coffee, tea and tobacco. The glass facade and steel skeleton demonstrate modern architectural principles.
New York City, United States
This 2.3-kilometer elevated railway from the 1930s was converted into a public park with native plants in 2009.
Essen, Germany
The industrial complex opened in 1932 includes coal mines and coking plants. The facility was constructed following Bauhaus principles and ceased operations in 1986.
Oberhausen, Germany
This former industrial hall has been converted into a modern event space, preserving original technical elements from its industrial period.
Alfeld, Germany
The industrial building constructed in 1911 with glass facade demonstrates new construction principles of 20th century modern architecture.
Remagen, Germany
The railway station built in 1856 has been converted into an art museum and regularly displays contemporary exhibitions.
Taipei, Taiwan
The museum, opened in 1983, combines geometric shapes with traditional Chinese architectural elements in its design.
Marseille, France
This former tobacco factory has been converted into a cultural center. The building provides exhibition spaces, workshops and public event areas.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Nemo Science Museum was designed by Renzo Piano and takes the form of a ship with a green copper cladding. The five floors house interactive scientific exhibitions on topics such as physics, chemistry and biology.
Shanghai, China
The Long Museum West Bund was converted from a former coal conveyor station on the Huangpu River. Architects Liu Yichun and Chen Yifeng preserved the original concrete hoppers and metal beams of the industrial facility and added new exhibition spaces in exposed concrete and glass.
Glasgow, Scotland
The concert hall on the River Clyde features a facade of overlapping metal plates. The building accommodates 3000 spectators and opened in 1997.
Metz, France
The museum features a geometric roof structure with hexagonal pattern and white membranes covering 10,000 square meters.
Marseille, France
The MuCEM is a museum of Mediterranean civilizations with a perforated concrete facade. A 130-meter footbridge connects the building to Fort Saint-Jean.
Shanghai, China
The Waterhouse at South Bund is a converted 1930s warehouse with four floors and 19 rooms along the Huangpu River.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Superkilen is a public park in the Nørrebro district composed of three distinct areas: the red square features sports facilities, the black market serves as an urban meeting space, and the green park includes play areas and recreational zones.
Nouméa, New Caledonia
This architectural complex combines local building traditions with contemporary techniques and uses natural ventilation systems.
Madrid, Spain
The historical station building contains an interior garden of 4000 square meters with more than 7000 plants from 260 species.
Rome, Italy
This 35-meter-high mound of 2nd-century Roman amphorae served as an ancient recycling site for ceramic containers.
Kagawa, Japan
The Teshima Art Museum is a concrete building without columns featuring a 25-centimeter-thick shell and two oval openings to the sky.
Théoule-sur-Mer, France
This 1970s residence consists of connected spheres and circles with terraces and pools across multiple levels.
Florence, Italy
This restored 19th-century railway station with high ceilings and industrial architecture offers 6000 square meters of exhibition space.
Niterói, Brazil
This museum was completed in 1996 and rises 16 meters above ground level. The concrete construction features an 817 square meter exhibition area.
Katowice, Poland
This museum integrates former mining shafts and underground tunnels into its exhibition spaces, while modern glass pavilions establish the connection to ground level.
New York City, United States
This library features a concrete structure with geometric windows and multiple reading levels. The building stands directly on the East River with views of Manhattan.
Villette-sur-Aube, France
Le Dôme is a circular building made of white plastic with a 20-meter diameter dome, designed according to the Futuro concept and now used as an entertainment venue.