Archinect - News2024-11-14T17:02:07-05:00https://archinect.com/news/article/150263444/photo-series-reveals-striking-half-renovated-homes-in-former-mining-region-of-germany
Photo series reveals striking half-renovated homes in former mining region of Germany Nathaniel Bahadursingh2021-05-12T13:27:00-04:00>2024-10-25T04:07:38-04:00
<img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/ef/ef650c19eb69e4d670d539e6dce03005.jpeg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>In 2018 the last active coal mine in Ruhrgebiet, Germany was shut down. As a result of the region’s declining coal industry, many of the colliery apartments occupied by workers were privatized and sold. However, as explained by <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2021/05/wolfgang-frohling-split-houses/" target="_blank">Colossal</a>, “Oftentimes, new owners only purchased half of the building—miners maintained a lifelong right of residence to their quarters––creating a stark split between the left and right sides of the structure.” </p>
<figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/07/07dbd8d2a042676c922d38fbf5c76e4a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/07/07dbd8d2a042676c922d38fbf5c76e4a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=514"></a></p></figure><p>Photographer Wolfgang Fröhling captures these distinct, juxtaposed structures in a series of photos taken across the region called “Semi-detached Houses”. Half-painted façades and heavily contrasting landscaping are featured in this assemblage of disparate homes sharing the same roof. The full collection of images can be seen on <a href="https://www.pixelprojekt-ruhrgebiet.de/portfolio/doppelhaushaelften-2019/" target="_blank">Pixel Project</a>, and more of Fröhling’s work can be viewed on his <a href="http://www.mediaarte.de/vita.html" target="_blank">website</a>.</p>