Ostmannturm, Former water tower in Bielefeld, Germany.
The Ostmannturm is a former water tower in Bielefeld featuring a distinctive copper dome that rises from a three-story factory building. The structure at Hanns-Bisegger-Strasse 7 presents a compact industrial design where the tower serves as the building's most recognizable feature.
The building was constructed between 1912 and 1914 as a slaughterhouse for a local consumer association, establishing its initial industrial purpose. The Ostmann spice company operated inside from 1938 until 1978, after which the structure transitioned to residential use.
The tower earned different nicknames from locals based on what was produced inside, first reflecting its slaughterhouse role and later its spice factory operations. These names show how the building became woven into the neighborhood's daily life and memory.
The building now operates as student housing after being acquired and renovated by a Freemasons association in 1980. The tower and its interior spaces are private property and not open to visitors, but the exterior can be viewed from the street.
This tower remains one of the last surviving industrial structures in its immediate area, serving as a physical reminder of how the neighborhood shifted from manufacturing to residential use. Its copper dome still catches light much like it did during the factory years, keeping that industrial past visually present amid modern surroundings.
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