The Gasometer Oberhausen is the most striking industrial heritage conversion in the Ruhr — a decommissioned gas holder built in 1929, standing 117.5 metres tall with an interior diameter of 67.6 metres, now serving as one of Europe's most unusual exhibition spaces. The sheer scale of the thing is the point: installations hang from the ceiling 100 metres above, and visitors take lifts to an outdoor viewing platform at the top for panoramic views across the Ruhr.
The Gasometer hosts two major temporary exhibitions per year, each designed specifically for the building's dimensions. Past exhibitions have filled the space with giant globes, hanging ships, and immersive light installations. Even between exhibitions, the exterior is worth seeing — a vast cylinder of rusted steel and rivets that has become the defining landmark of Neue Mitte Oberhausen. Check the schedule before visiting, as the interior is closed when exhibitions change.