Schweinehochhaus, infamous high-rise pig farm in Germany
The Schweinehochhaus is a six-story concrete building constructed in the early 1970s to function as a vertical animal farm. The facility featured two elevators designed to move pigs between levels and automated feeding systems that operated across the structure.
The building was constructed in 1970 in East Germany as a model for modern pig production. Following German reunification, it fell into disuse and later faced criticism regarding animal treatment, leading to its closure in 2018.
The building's name reflects its original purpose: a high-rise structure for pigs. Today it represents a broader conversation about industrial animal farming and the tension between efficiency and animal welfare in contemporary agriculture.
The site is difficult to access as it sits abandoned in a rural area outside Maasdorf. Visitors can observe the exterior concrete structure from a distance along nearby roads, but entry into the building is not permitted.
The facility was originally designed to hold around 3,000 pigs but later operated with approximately 500 animals. The Dutch operator Michiel Taken engineered it to function almost entirely through automated systems using elevators and conveyor belts to move animals between levels.
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