Bourlaschouwburg

old building with statues on the roof
Toneelhuis, Antwerp | © Jens Stachowitz

Bourla Theatre (also known as Bourlaschouwburg) is a theatre located in Antwerp that seats around 900. The building is designed in a neoclassical style on the site of the former Tapissierspand tapestry market. The theatre was designed on request from the city in 1827 by the city architect Pierre Bourla. Construction began in 1829, but was delayed due to the Belgian Revolution. The theatre was finally finished in 1834 and opened under the name, Grand Théâtre or Théâtre Royal Français, on account of its ownership by a French company. Presently, the Bourla houses the theatre company Het Toneelhuis, which is a merger of the companies, Koninklijke Nederlandse Schouwburg and Blauwe Maandag Compagnie.

The Bourla is the last remaining municipal theatre in Europe with original stage machinery, which fill five levels above and below the stage. The building has been named a protected building since 1938, and therefore is regarded among the most important historic buildings in Belgium.

Text from wikipedia

Golden times

old houses that are beautifully lit
guild houses, Groote Markt, Antwerp | © Jens Stachowitz

Antwerp became a very rich community in the 16th century and these rich residents showed off their wealth. These guild houses are beautifully lit in the evening. Through intensive post-editing, I brought out these golden times even more clearly.

Tetraeder in Bottrop

Tetraeder in Bottrop on top of the heap Beckstraße

The Tetraeder is one of many landmarks the Ruhr Area has built to signal their industrial past and its trust into its structural change. We walked up very early in the morning during the summer solstice to catch the sunrise. Fortunately this moment was fare more beautiful than the sunset itself. After the sunset we hat a very early breakfast atop the artificial hill made of tailings form the nearby coal mines.

Miner´s lamp in Moers

Miner’s lamp (Geleucht) at the heap Rheinpreußen in Moers © Jens Stachowitz

To honor the may miners in the Ruhr Area and to spend a little comfort after the mining industry has gone this landmark was set up in Moers on top of the heap Rheinpreussen, what is the name of the former nearby coal mine. A lamp like this was constructed in a way that prevents an explosion which occurs when methane was set free. In modern days electric light were used.

Industry at the river Rhine

Coking plant Schwelgern at the river Rhine @ Jens Stachowitz

There still is heavy industry in the Ruhr Area and part of that ist this coking plant that supplies the nearby blast furnances. This photograph was taken from the other side of the river Rhine in oder to picture the whole very large plant and the beautiful reflections of the lights at the blue hour.

Tiger & Turtle in Duisburg

Tiger & Turtle in Duisburg @ Jens Stachowitz

A landmark of its own is this walk-in sculpture named »tiger & turtle«. On the former dump for metallurgical waste, a landscape park was created from the demolition material of the neighboring metal works Berzelius/MHD, which had fallen into bankruptcy. This site is now a very popular destination for visitors from all around the neighborhood.