INITIATOR
WE INITIATE DECADE PROJECTS
The Ruhr Regional Association (RVR) moves the Ruhr area forwards. Many times in the past, it has initiated and supported critical projects, and projects that were important for the future of the region.
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One key to the transformation of the Ruhr area into a modern region with quality of life has been the International Architecture Exhibition (IBA) Emscher Park from 1989 to 1999. This set out to lay the groundwork for utilising the industrial heritage, rethinking and replanning it for use in urban planning, tourism and environmental purposes. The RVR remains the sponsor of the Industrial Heritage Trail to this day, and together with the State of North Rhine-Westphalia it finances the preservation and maintenance of five major sites.
In 2017, through a project sponsorship contract, the RVR took over the maintenance and preservation of e.g. the Zollverein World Heritage Site.
Since 1997, the Emscher Landscape Park partnership project has been opening up spoil tips and parks for leisure and recreation.
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Another highlight and reference point in the memory of the region was and remains the year 2010. Together with the City of Essen, the RVR was the organiser of the European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010. For a whole year, the region sparked in the European light with large-scale events with public appeal and smaller local formats.
Unforgotten is the closure of the national A40 autobahn between Duisburg and Hamm for a hundred kilometre-long culture festival with a picnic on the roadway between Duisburg and Dortmund.
And we are continuing this tradition of decade projects: in 2027, the Ruhr area will host the International Horticultural Exhibition IGA Ruhr Metropolis 2027. We expect over five million visitors wanting to experience the green and lovable sides of the Ruhr area.