15 Years Ago, Water Flowed into the PHOENIX See – A Dortmund Success Story That Sets the Standard

In the autumn of 2010, something became reality that had previously prompted disbelieving smiles or furrowed brows among some Dortmund residents: the flooding of the PHOENIX See. After all, many simply could not imagine a lake on a vast site that had stood for intensive industrial use for so long – extremely densely built up, sealed over and closed off from the public. Among the star guests at the flooding on 1 October 2010 were actor Larry Hagman (known from the US series Dallas) and British singer Amy Macdonald.

Exemplary Urban Development

In the autumn of 2010, something became reality that had previously prompted disbelieving smiles or furrowed brows among some Dortmund residents: the flooding of the PHOENIX See. After all, many simply could not imagine a lake on a vast site that had stood for intensive industrial use for so long – extremely densely built up, sealed over and closed off from the public. Among the star guests at the flooding on 1 October 2010 were actor Larry Hagman (known from the US series Dallas) and British singer Amy Macdonald.

From the Hörder Fackel to the PHOENIX See

In 1840, Hermann Piepenstock founded the first ironworks in Hörde on the grounds of Hörde Castle. Today it is regarded as the cradle of the German steel industry. The molten pig iron produced at PHOENIX West was transported every day to the steelworks at PHOENIX Ost on its own line by the works railway – the legendary “Feuriger Elias” (“Fiery Elias”). The Hörder Fackel, the gas flare of the Hermannshütte at PHOENIX Ost, long dominated the local skyline and was a symbol of labour.

From the Hörder Fackel to the PHOENIX See

In 2001, the Hörder Fackel went out; steel production in Dortmund was no longer economically viable. A large part of the blast furnaces was dismantled, sold to China and reassembled there like an oversized puzzle. It was the end of the iron and steel industry at this site.

• high-quality, demand-oriented residential development concepts,
• attractive leisure facilities
• convenient, easily accessible retail and service offerings
• in an ecologically ambitious and sustainably restructured setting.

1. high-quality, demand-oriented residential development concepts,
2. attractive leisure facilities
3. convenient, easily accessible retail and service offerings
4. in an ecologically ambitious and sustainably restructured setting.

This team is wonderful. We all love each other so much. We should get married.
Oliver Bierhoff

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Exemplary Urban Development

In the autumn of 2010, something became reality that had previously prompted disbelieving smiles or furrowed brows among some Dortmund residents: the flooding of the PHOENIX See. After all, many simply could not imagine a lake on a vast site that had stood for intensive industrial use for so long – extremely densely built up, sealed over and closed off from the public. Among the star guests at the flooding on 1 October 2010 was actor Larry Hagman (known from the US series Dallas).