Erieta Attali and Philipp Valente Explore the Shadows of Germany's Industrial Past

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A city's industrial past can leave unsettling imprints on the present. Large abandoned structures and forgotten facilities are very appealing not only to the voracious real estate market but also to the imagination of those who daydream about an unpromising past. Take the Ruhr valley, Germany's most populated urban area, and Europe's largest industrial region.

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The Ruhr is located in the western part of the country, near the border between the Netherlands and Belgium, and surrounds eleven cities, including Düsseldorf, Dortmund, and Essen, as well as several smaller municipalities. The area has undergone profound industrial and economic transformations, deeply imprinted on the Ruhr landscape, transporting to the present the memories of a time gone by – relics of German heritage, some of which have been protected by UNESCO.