dk nkf - Nordisk Konservatorforbund Danmark

problematic since the colliery closed down because
of the loss of warmth emitted by the operation of
the engines. At the same time it was quickly clear
from a closer examination that the installation of
a heating and insulation system would involve an
intolerable intervention in the original architecture.
But to dispense with this would negatively affect the
comfort of visitors and strongly reduce the chances
of using the engine house during the winter months.
In future we foresee using the engine house in the
following appropriate ways:
- Making it freely accessible to the general public
(ground floor and cellar), also for disabled persons.
- Setting up a permanent exhibition in a part
of the cellar (only using climate-insensitive
exhibits, or copies).
- Regular demonstrations of some of the restored
working engines (a hauling machine dating
back to 1902, a converter and a compressor).
- Presenting special events during the summer
months, like concerts with a maximum capacity
of up to 800 visitors – all special exhibitions
will have movable partitions and walls).
This very restricted usage concept has meant that
the following interventions are indispensable:
- Additional emergency exit stairs from the cellar
(outside the building) and one extra escape door
in the east gable. The existing ridge turret must
be strengthened for ventilation purposes. After
much agonising we have decided to do without
a fire sprinkling system and a coat of fireproofing
paint on the steel construction.
- The construction of an adequate public toilet in
an empty part of the cellar. For this, however,
the cellar level must be connected to the ground
floor by an additional staircase and lift in the
south east corner of the building.
Fig 11: 1902 air compressor, “retro-fitted” by museum restorers and retired craftsmen, during a demonstration run for visitors (N.
Tempel, LWL-Industriemuseum, Dortmund, 2007)
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