Considered landscape landmarks due to their imposing dimensions, gasometers emerged during the Industrial Revolution and were present in many cities around the world, accompanying their urbanization process. With shifts in gas generation and distribution during the second half of the 20th century and the emergence of new technologies, gasometers were gradually decommissioned. Although many have been condemned to demolition in recent years, many also still remain within the urban fabric, standing as testaments to an industrial past. Their potential for architectural, artistic, and landscape interventions prompts us to question what possibilities lie ahead for their future.
The first gasometers emerged in the 19th century to store gas produced by burning coal to meet the demands of growing cities. However, they began to be decommissioned in various parts of the world between the late 20th and early 21st centuries, due to the use of more resistant materials in piping and the conversion from coal gas to natural gas, which allowed gas to be stored underground within the distribution network itself or in smaller-volume, high-pressure spheres [1]. To keep these structures functional, some utility companies still use them to save on installations and piping, or even as operational centers.
