Water Tower-Conversion and Museum Planning for the UNESCO World Heritage Völklinger Hütte, Saarland

The Völklingen Ironworks' water tower, built in 1917/18, is one of the largest water towers ever constructed and a landmark of industrial culture in the Saarland. Duncan McCauley’s redesign of an industrial monument consisted of precise, sensitive interventions to open up and make the historic building accessible. The new entrance to the World Heritage Site includes a ticket office, shop, visitor center, and café. Inclusive design and barrier-free access connect the upper levels and the adjacent blower hall with the main site as part of a continuous circular route and for an attractive visitor experience. Carefully placed movement, thresholds, and vistas transform the pathway into a "Promenade Architecturale". All interventions were carried out in close coordination with the heritage authorities and UNESCO.