alienated and entangled ruhr area

A public lecture by Sebastian Schlecht as part of the CLL – Copenhagen Landscape Lecture Series. This lecture series is organized by the Department of Landscape Architecture and Planning – Design in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Denmark.

The presentation examined the transformation of the landscape of the Ruhr metropolitan region from the perspective of lala.ruhr’s work. How this region transformed from a landscape of natural tranquility into a land of untamed fires. How the hooves of wild horses were replaced by the magnetism of profit. The forces of industrial creation have irrevocably transformed the area, from the depths of the coal mines to the sky. After the last decades of repair, renaturation, and redesign – driven by both desperation and love – fractures and unanswered questions remain. The need to create a livable region for over 5 million people is a constant driver of creativity in design, culture, and technology, simultaneously nurturing and neglecting the landscape – the region’s foundation.

Date: May 19, 2025
Location: University of Copenhagen, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management