What the heck is a LaPaDu?

In this post, you will find some impressions from one of the most interesting locations I have imaginable, the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord. The name itself needs some explanation, not only because it is German but also because it cannot be translated into English accurately. The word Landschaftspark means landscape garden or park which in English refers to a park or area that has been changed, designed or shaped by (sometimes) intense gardening.
This, however, is not what the LaPaDu is. Until 1985, this place has been an active steel mill which produced raw iron for nearby steel productions sites. It was closed and meant to be torn down in 1985. When the citizens of Duisburg intervened, the site and its various buildings were kept intact and reused for cultural and recreational purposes.

On of the blast furnaces has been opened for visitors who can now climb it to enjoy a broad view of the surrounding area.

Ruhr Sunset as it can be seen from the blast furnace

Industrial Sunset

The old gasometer is now the largest human-made diving center in Europe.

Trees in front of the gasometer – just to give yo a sense of scale

Other buildings serve for climbing, open air cinema, theater performances, or as a youth hostel or a pub garden.

Seats

A large parkland area is also a perfect place for walkers and cyclers. At night, the old industrial buildings are the stars of a colorful light installation by Jonathan Park.

Old River Emscher

Aquatic Plant

With all its different uses and the unique fascination of crude industrial buildings within wildly growing nature, the LaPaDu is a truly unique photo location.

Rusty Tube

Industrial Skyline.

Light from a above

Ongoing project

I think you’ll agree that ‘landscape garden’ is a rather unfortunate name for this place. This place is so unique that a new name has to be invented for it. Until someone comes up with a suitable suggestion, I’ll just call it LaPaDu.

As I happen to live quite close to the park, you won’t find it surprising that I have been there quite often and intend to go there regularly in the future, photographing this fascinating place from a black&white photographer’s perspective. In the future, I strive to use this website as my main photo sharing outlet instead of various social media services like FlickR or 500px. I intend to keep you updated right here. Therefore, I have set up a new menu, appropriately called Ongoing Projects. Yes, you are right, I wouldn’t have done this if there weren’t more ongoing projects to be added in the future.

More of the same…

For more photographs from the LaPaDu, go to my gallery page (coming soon).

For more information on the park itself, check out the park’s website: http://en.landschaftspark.de/startseite