Artful works

August 2010 – The city of Enschede is doing all it can to breathe new life into the buildings which characterise the hey-day of the textile industry, its industrial heritage. That was also the case with Spinnerij Oosterveld, an industrial building dating from 1911. The former cotton mill was transformed into a modern business complex with 95 units. Some of the fire escapes have been worked into a 20-metre high work of art. The steel staircases and the work of art were hot-dip galvanised by Verzinkerij Kampen.

Enschede would not be the city it is today without the textile industry which was in its prime at the turn of the 20th century. The former cotton mill is one of the many relics of that period. Where once proud workers in the textile industry showed what real work was all about, the business community now has a unique opportunity to profile themselves in this distinctive office complex developed by Beltman Architects of Enschede. The steel staircase of the new business complex was made by Tasche Staalbouw of Albergen and galvanised by Verzinkerij Kampen. That is their lasting contribution to both art and safety.