Dortmunder Union - Hauptverwaltungsgebäude, Industrial headquarters at Rheinische Strasse, Dortmund, Germany
The Dortmunder Union headquarters is an administrative building on Rheinische Strasse featuring a monumental form with ten neo-Renaissance columns across its front facade. Three interior courtyards structure the interior spaces and provide light and ventilation to the central areas.
Construction took place between 1916 and 1921 when it served as headquarters for Union AG, a mining and steel company whose expansion was backed by armament industry profits from World War I. The building emerged during an era of economic growth for the Ruhr industrial region.
The interior displays industrial motifs such as machine parts, cornucopias, and laurel wreaths that reflect the values of the Ruhr region's industrial past. These decorative elements show how work and craftsmanship were celebrated in that era.
The building is visible and accessible from public spaces, displaying its impressive architecture from street level. Visitors can view the neo-Renaissance style and columns from the exterior and use its location on Rheinische Strasse to understand the industrial history context of Dortmund.
Above the columns, an inscription reading 'Work and deed praise the man' adorns the facade, symbolizing the industrial work ethic of that era. This message held special meaning for the miners and steel workers who formed the backbone of the company.
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