Design Zentrum NRW

The Design Zentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen (Centre for Design North Rhine-Westphalia) in the former boiler house sees itself as an intermediary between industry, companies and designers. In the past, compressed air used to be produced in this building which was used to operate the pneumatic hammers and mine trains as well as to heat all the buildings of the Zollverein colliery. The architect, Lord Norman Foster, converted the boiler house into a modern venue for exhibitions and events. Every year, the Design Zentrum confers the coveted international "red dot design award". People interested in design can visit the permanent exhibition in the "red dot design museum" where products from all fields of industrial design which have won the "red dot" seal of quality are on show.