Westergasfabriek
Encyclopedia
The Westergasfabriek is a former gasworks
in Amsterdam
, the Netherlands
, now used as a cultural venue.
(ICGA) built two coal gas
plants in Amsterdam: the Eastern Gas Factory and the Western Gas Factory. The latter was ready in 1885 and was strategically situated between water, rail and access roads. In 1885 it was the largest gas extraction plant in the Netherlands. The gas was extracted from coal
and was used for street lighting
. In 1898 the City of Amsterdam took over the operation and expanded the plant. Later the city went over to gas from Hoogovens
in IJmuiden, so the production of coal gas from the Factory decreased. In 1967 the production of gas from the Factory stopped permanently.
After the Western Gas Factory closed the area around the plant was found to be heavily polluted by tar, mineral oils, and asbetos. After years of discussions the City of Amsterdam and the Ministry of VROM agreed on a remediation plan.
designed a park cover the industrial area of the gas works. It features sport facilities, flower gardens, a water play garden for children and walking and cycling routes. The area also features numerous restaurants, clubs, and shops.
Gasworks
A gasworks or gas house is a factory for the manufacture of gas. The use of natural gas has made many redundant in the developed world, however they are often still used for storage.- Early gasworks :...
in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, now used as a cultural venue.
History
In the 19th century the Imperial Continental Gas AssociationImperial Continental Gas Association
Imperial Continental Gas Association plc was a leading British gas utility operating in various cities in Continental Europe . It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
(ICGA) built two coal gas
Coal gas
Coal gas is a flammable gaseous fuel made by the destructive distillation of coal containing a variety of calorific gases including hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane and volatile hydrocarbons together with small quantities of non-calorific gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen...
plants in Amsterdam: the Eastern Gas Factory and the Western Gas Factory. The latter was ready in 1885 and was strategically situated between water, rail and access roads. In 1885 it was the largest gas extraction plant in the Netherlands. The gas was extracted from coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
and was used for street lighting
Gas lighting
Gas lighting is production of artificial light from combustion of a gaseous fuel, including hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, propane, butane, acetylene, ethylene, or natural gas. Before electricity became sufficiently widespread and economical to allow for general public use, gas was the most...
. In 1898 the City of Amsterdam took over the operation and expanded the plant. Later the city went over to gas from Hoogovens
Koninklijke Hoogovens
Koninklijke Hoogovens was a Dutch steel producer founded in 1918. In 1999, the company merged with British Steel to create Corus Group steel company. In 2007, Corus Group was purchased by India-based Tata Steel.- History :On April 19, 1917, H.J.E...
in IJmuiden, so the production of coal gas from the Factory decreased. In 1967 the production of gas from the Factory stopped permanently.
After the Western Gas Factory closed the area around the plant was found to be heavily polluted by tar, mineral oils, and asbetos. After years of discussions the City of Amsterdam and the Ministry of VROM agreed on a remediation plan.
Redevelopment
The two buildings on site were designed by architect Isaac Gosschalk in the Dutch Neo Renaissance style, popular in the Netherlands between 1870 and 1915. Gosschalk united the functional nature of the buildings with the beauty of architecture. Symmetry played an important role in his design. Thirteen of the original buildings remain on the site and are designated as national monuments. Landscape Architect Kathryn GustafsonKathryn Gustafson
Kathryn Gustafson is an American landscape architect and artist. Her work includes the Gardens of the Imagination in Terrasson, France; a city square in Évry France; and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park, London. She has won awards and prizes including the Millennium...
designed a park cover the industrial area of the gas works. It features sport facilities, flower gardens, a water play garden for children and walking and cycling routes. The area also features numerous restaurants, clubs, and shops.