VENUSBERG II – Agricultural Technologies Inside an Industrial Heritage | Masters Design Thesis on Adaptive Reuse

Site Context

The project site is the Venusberg II spinning mill near Drebach in eastern Germany, a 20-hectare industrial ensemble embedded in the landscape of the Upper Erzgebirge. Developed along a historic river course that once powered textile production, the complex consists of densely arranged factory halls, machine houses, boiler houses, and auxiliary buildings. Although production ceased in 2022, the site remains structurally intact but vulnerable to decay.

The proposed program introduces indoor agriculture as the primary productive use, complemented by research facilities, commercial interim uses, and public functions. Multi-story farming is integrated into existing halls, while rooftops provide additional cultivation areas. Historic machine and boiler houses become a real-world laboratory in cooperation with regional research institutions. Public amenities, including a canteen and event spaces, re-open the formerly closed industrial site and reconnect it to the surrounding region.

Design Process

The design process began with a detailed analysis of the historical development, spatial organization, and structural condition of the existing ensemble. Mapping building typologies, circulation systems, and infrastructural networks revealed which structures could be preserved, adapted, or selectively dismantled.

In a second step, scenarios for future production were tested against the spatial and climatic requirements of indoor agriculture. Sectional studies played a key role in developing a multi-story cultivation system that fits within the generous industrial volumes. Energy flows, waste heat recovery, and connections to regional renewable sources were integrated into the spatial concept.

Finally, the project was structured as a phased transformation strategy, acknowledging economic and logistical realities. Rather than proposing a single finished state, the design outlines a long-term development framework that gradually activates buildings, opens the site, and establishes synergies between production, research, and public use.

Final Outcome

The final proposal transforms the former spinning mill into a hybrid production and research campus centered on indoor agriculture. Existing factory halls are reactivated for multi-level cultivation, with rooftop growing areas extending the productive surface. Waste heat is reused within the system, and the energy concept incorporates regional infrastructure such as the Markersbach pumped-storage power plant and nearby wind energy.

Historic machine and boiler houses are repurposed as research and experimental facilities, fostering collaboration with local institutions. Former cultural buildings are reactivated as public spaces, including a canteen and event venue, while a botanical garden emerges within the former twisting mill through its extensive glazing and proximity to production.

Conclusion: Ultimately, the historic river course is made accessible again, re-establishing the spatial and narrative origin of the site. The project demonstrates how industrial heritage can evolve into a productive, energy-conscious, and publicly accessible environment—linking memory, economy, and future development within a coherent spatial framework.

[This Academic Project has been published with text and images submitted by the student]