Wasserturm am Steeler Berg

The tower at Steeler Berg is a brick structure 26 meters tall carrying a water container 18 meters in diameter, situated at Diether-Krebs-Platz. The building was designed to function continuously and still holds water for the city's supply system today.

Engineer Otto Intze designed and built this tower between 1883 and 1884 to supply drinking water to Essen as the city grew during industrialization. The structure was erected during a period when rapid urban expansion required dependable water systems for residents and factories.

The tower anchors the public square in Essen with its red brick presence and solid silhouette that defines the neighborhood. It marks a route through the city that traces how industrial infrastructure shaped the region's development and daily life.

The site is centrally located on a public square and easy to reach on foot and identify from a distance. You can visit at any time since the building is visible from the plaza and situated in an open area.

The basement houses the offices and storage space of a local food bank that distributes supplies to people in need throughout the city. This modern use connects the tower's original purpose of providing resources to the community with today's social assistance.