LEGEND
Big clean-up campaign for the coming campsite in 2018
Camping and Kühlhaus go together very well. Our mini campsite borders on the nature reserve „Loenscher Park“ behind the Kühlhaus. Here nature meets industrial culture. Our camping site has developed within 2 years of personal contribution. We disposed of tons of waste and created many cosy spots for your overnight stay.
Between birches and beeches – camping in green heaven!
Here you camp in the middle of the wood, among many trees in small glades. The flair of the industrial monument and the cultural and creative background make this subculture-camping a beautiful experience. You can arrive here by caravan, camper or with your tent – our mini camping site offers 35 pitches and everything the camper’s heart desires: toilets, showers, dishwashing and laundry facilities, room for relaxing and doing sports, a quiet environment and many relaxed people.
Quadratic, practical, good – the sanitary facility in organic design
Glamping in the safari tent
For all those who dislike sleeping in tents but still want to be surrounded by nature there are 3 safari tents with solid beds. The campsite not only offers much room for groups. Meetings of all kinds and family gatherings can take place here, too. The close contact and exchange between you, us and the other actors of the complex is important for us. Thus, it is not unusual to call it a day together at the campfire chatting about projects and counting shooting stars.
You can book pitches and safari tents here:
BOOKING
We love campfire atmosphere!
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The well-known garage complex and the new perspective
Who doesn’t know the typical GDR garages? It still can be found, in line with its kind, standing solid as a rock in the heart of nature taking a trip down memory lane. These miracles of room identically constructed are abandoned in many places due to a lack of command. There are several of these storage spaces at the Kühlhaus complex, too. Not all served a purpose immediately.
Visit of Martin Duhlig, Saxon State Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor and Transport © SMWA/Kristin Schmidt
What about all the basically useful vacancies? Rike Rehfeldt came to Görlitz in 2018 following the call of the Kühlhaus and addressed this question in the context of her design study and as part of the project „Freiraum Stadtrand“ (i.e. open space on the fringe). The aim of the project was to offer young designers the possibility to realise their ideas. The concept of conversion of the standardised room was developed since one of the former garage complexes neighbours on the campsite.
Draft by Friedrike Rehfeldt
The stowage space for cars and all was transformed into stylish and artfully designed units for relaxing and overnighters. The highlight is a simple, modular system made of wood that offers room for a bed, shelf space and a seating area. Four units were constructed so far, further ones will follow as needed.
You can book accommodation of this kind here:
BOOKING
A cosy room for your holiday
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The studio house before its gutting in 2017
We preserved and gutted the former trailer homes for employees in the 80s in order to use the existing structures for new workrooms for (creative) tourists. The room structure offers enough space for 10 workrooms with respective chill-out areas. The aim is to attract actors from cultural and creative industries who want to take time out from the city and focus on their projects. Also, we want to provide a possibility for tourists to benefit from the inspiring surroundings pursuing their own creative projects.
We, as cooperation partners of the project „Stadt auf Probe“ (i.e. city on trial), could already try out the future model in 2019. The trial residents, several artists, and creative folks from different regions of Germany, were invited to live and work here for a month. The Kühlhaus provided workrooms and existing workshops and this way could gain important experiences in the needs of the target group and, about the future use of the studio house.
Working at the Kühlhaus – Danilo explains the background:
The new windows have already been installed
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There was no getting through the scrub in past times
Let’s hang out together in the hammock wood and chat, read, doze and swing. A little wood affording shade is the ideal place for the popular cloth swings.
Just take a break from everyday life – no problem with this view
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Goblets and winner’s certificates pile up at the hall
Two big halls came to light behind countless birches on the neighbouring ground. In one of them dogs are trained today. The dog sports hall at the Kühlhaus is one of the two public dog sports arenas in eastern Germany and provides optimal and weather-independent training conditions for resident dog sportspeople, mainly for dog agility. Training seminars regularly take place under the guidance of experienced and successful coaches. You can rent the hall and agility equipment by the hour.
Contact:
robschmie@gmx.net
Equipment for the training with your dog is provided.
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This could be your worfkplace
Not that revitalising both areas wasn’t enough work already, now we want to lure others into the green where they can pursue their creative activities. After the conquest of the neighbouring complex, a single-storeyed building was chosen to house future jit-offices. We kept the construction trailers, according to the Kühlhaus-philosophy of reusing and processing already existing things instead of buying new ones.
Gutting the flat-roofed building
Simple wood design makes the rooms cosy
Fix it up – the interior of the flat-roofed building was pimped in 2020 and now shine in simple Aleppo pine design. The most special feature of this office landscape is its closeness to nature. You can see one or two deer here in winter and relax in the hammock wood in the summer. Thanks to WiFi you can also work on the meadows outside; the pavilion provides a big table where you can get in contact with others, eat together and hold meetings in this open room. Don’t get us wrong: Our jit-offices can’t make your work less stressful, but they create a balance and productive surroundings for you to focus on your work.
You are looking for a stylish office in the green and are curious?
Get in contact with us:
kontakt@kuehlhaus-goerlitz.de
Work together surrounded by nature and be creative
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The passage between the main complex and the neighbouring property
The Kühlhaus colony has been developing on the neighbouring plot since 2016. It is a place for creative work surrounded by nature. The owner of the Kühlhaus bought the adjacent area in consultation with the actors on-site and, therefore, extended the space that is open for ideas. An idea for usage had to be found for the many small building units that were marked by the ravages of time and acts of vandalism. Besides the future studio house and the jit-offices, there is the joint pavilion in the heart of the colony. The large-scale roofing makes many seating and working possibilities possible.
A lot of room for sitting and chatting
During the summer months workshops and group activities can take place here during the day. At night campers meet people from the jit-offices and the studios. There is enough room to cook and eat together, get to know and share ideas with each other.
The association hosts concerts and workshops here occasionally.
Ideal for mild summer nights and concerts
At first the whole area had to be conquered again because the ruins were kept firmly in hand by an ocean of birches, bushes, and refuse.
Planning meeting of the free space designers
The pavilion was renovated using the expertise of budding architects from greater Hannover in one weekend. Ideas for the studio house were collected and young landscapers developed a concept for the use of the green areas. Moreover, product designers gave thoughts to the usage of the many vacant garages from GDR times.
A sandpit is being built for the youngest visitors
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Graffiti and leftovers from the plant remind of the times of vacancy
Work hard, party hard! The former smithy and the plant were transformed into concert and party locations by the crew members. The outcome of this hard and voluntary work is impressive.
Martin Kohlstedt visiting the plant
Before parties there was renovation
The charm of the facilities was retained with love for detail and can shine a new light on every new event. The rooms have seen so much over the years and tell the stories of cold store history, concerts, lectures, markets and so on. Animated industrial culture at its best!
An alternative Christmas Market at the Kühlhaus
Party at the Alte Schmiede (old smithy)
Martin Kohlstedt did not only visit the Kühlhaus during his tour in 2017. Enjoy the sound and the incredible atmosphere.
You would like to use the rooms? No problem, just contact us:
Congress “landsichten” in 2019 © William Veder
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Sketch by Katrin Merle, created at “Skizzentage” 2016
The former canteen is a multi-functional room now and and a true miracle of room use. Concerts, meetings, workshops take place in here. Sometimes it still serves as a canteen and provides sustenance for the hungry mouths of the Kühlhaus crew during the construction and deconstruction activities before and after events.
Having meals together during the production of events is the name of the game
The canteen qualifies for cosy concerts
Apart from the event room, there also is a cosy bar with an attached kitchenette, the silkscreen workshop and the photo lab on this floor. All rooms were renovated and maintained at low costs by the crew. The rough charm was deliberately preserved.
Gaze at the former canteen before its renovation
You want to support us in present projects and events or want to realise your own ideas? You are very welcome to contribute.
Just send us a message to:
kontakt@kuehlhaus-goerlitz.de
Meetings can be held here, too
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For the project or simply just because – our workshop is open for your ideas!
You want to produce posters yourself, customise t-shirts or bags with individual designs? The open silkscreen workshop located in the former social wing of the building makes it possible. It is open to everyone interested in creatively working with their hands. Apart from silkscreen events and workshops offered, you can work here every Wednesday by yourself.
Rakel and screen
Every now and then you can find us with our mobile silkscreen cart at events and projects. You can gain your first experiences with the squeegee and the screen and print the latest design onto your t-shirt brought along.
You can watch here how the printing works:
If you want to know how the design gets onto the screen, watch this video:
At the Kühlhaus you can expose screens with your own design. Just get in contact with us and we share our experiences with you!
Contact:
druckbar@kuehlhaus-goerlitz.de
Just let it dry and iron it before the first washing.
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It’s a nice view from the top
A real insider’s tip! The view from the roof top is our long-kept secret. Thanks to Basti, member of the Kühlhaus association and of the advertising agency 15°, there is a selected 360° time-lapse video of the sunset at the industrial monument. Look what you can see from the roof top:
There is one downer: The state of the roof has been alarming for years as it leaks and is flooded when it rains. It was repaired poorly with a roofing foil. A renovation of the roof simply is too expensive and no possibilities for grants could be found yet. We can only hope that the foil will work long enough.
More information on the agency
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An old article on the opening 1854
Inside the main building from the ground floor to the rooftop there are the former cold rooms, cooling tunnels and the old tea storage. A public utilisation of the whole building is not yet possible for reasons of building regulations. Only on the day of open heritage site or at guided tours can you glance at the old halls.
Under the roof with visitors on the day of open heritage site
Installation-based performance by Noam Baitner // FIRST POSITION under the “Artist in Residence” programme “GO BETWEEN” 2018
In the still young GDR 14 standard cold stores were built by order of the ministry of food industry in order to store and preserve state reserve. One of them was the cold store in Görlitz. The central plan office in Berlin provided the construction plans 1953. Apart from the five-storey Kernkühlhaus (main cold store?) a technical sector as well as an administerial and a social wing were built. Already on 1 July 1954 the plant was activated in Görlitz Weinhübel. The area of 2 hectares was connected to the rail network to improve supply and delivery.
Foods are stocked into cold storage // from the archives of Frigolanda Dresdner Kühlhaus GmbH
Machinist at work 1981 // from the archives of Ulrich Dörsing, a former employee
The former tea storage is empty today. Creative folks draw inspiration from it. Listen how good it sounds:
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This way…
There is a lot of room for youth and urban culture, too. The hall has evolved into an important meeting point for the BMX- and skater scene in Görlitz and beyond after being used for food deliveries and presorting in GDR times and after serving as a paintball hall some years ago.
A lot of room for rolling, jumping, and chilling
Ready to roll!
The hall opened as most eastern BMX- and skater hall in Germany in 2018. The Adrenalin e.V. rebuilt the hall with loads of sweat, skills and dedication in a voluntary capacity. The result is a sight for sore eyes. Now the association is looking forward to your skills and your support.
For opening hours and contact follow
A workshop in an unusual ambience – at “landsichten” 2019 © William Veder
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Sketch by Marion Brandes, created at “Skizzentage” 2020
The yard – the „MuFuTi“ under the spotlights of the Kühlhaus. Pivot. Delta of work. Paradise for forklifters shunting. All roads lead to or through the yard.
The ramp becomes a stage.
The CYRKUS lights the fire with a traditional show.
The big area with adjoining ramp is used for concerts, workshops, and family celebrations. Meeting point and fairground at once, the yard is many-faced. Always towered above by the stately building. The Kühlhaus, tenderly illuminated, shines at night, and, with its grey-brown neoclassical front and its colossal order it reminisces about its past by day. The predominantly monolithic ferroconcrete skeleton construction reflects the fading socialist monumental architecture and is one of a kind in Görlitz.
The magic of Walpurgis night at the Kühlhaus – an annual highlight.
Psst, a insiders’ tip: Sit on the ramp in the shadow, drink a coffee, have a break: you can watch everything happening on the yard and often stay invisible at the same time – marvellous!
Participants at a workshop on the ramp during „Skizzentage 2020“
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Strength lies in calmness…
Jürgen is the old hand, sort of the patron of the Kühlhaus. He has already been sniffing around the area when it still was the middle of nowhere with loads of rubble and further signs of decay and the first plans were made. Even though he looks after the Kühlhaus from above now, his kennel is reminiscent of him.
Jürgen supervises clearing work 2008
Apart from his job as a watchdog, he started a film career in one of the trailers for MoxxoM-festival, a former open-air festival for electronic music. A good deal of its scenes with a crew of association members and MoxxoM-friends was filmed on and beyond the grounds of the Kühlhaus in 2013.
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Garage mural by Sokar Uno
A „one day mural“ by Graffitist Sokar Uno can be seen at the Kühlhaus. This piece was created in 2016. It reads “Happy Birthday Mom <3” in its right lower corner. The artist beautified many a wall in Görlitz and other towns.
For his Facebook gallery click here
There still are free surfaces for graffiti. Just speak with us!
Spray mist in the evening sun
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The former bike parking space and the old trackbed in deep sleep in 2008.
The family meadow has been elaborately revitalised over the years and offers now a lot of space for free development of creativity, relaxation, and diverse events. The former trackbed was removed, grass was sowed, and the old bike rack was changed into a temporary outside bar with a roofed all-purpose area.
Campfire feeling at the bar.
The meadow has been used for parties and events of all sorts since 2012. Thanks to the huge decoration fund of props, the busy bees and the expertise of our Kühlhaus-team, the meadow enchants all our visitors all year round.
There was even enough room for a temporary, self-built pool on the meadow at the final Moxxom party 2015.
How beautiful the autumn fête 2019 was!
Generation-spanning parties like the autumn fête or small music events have become constants in the annual programme of “Kühlhaus” and delight with all kinds of creative self-mades.
For questions on renting send us an email to:
KLEMENS@KUEHLHAUS-GOERLITZ.DE
TRIPLE TROUBLE @ Walpurgiszauber 2019
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Before the sand…
Owing to the sporty members of the association, you can meet here and play decent beach volleyball. Beach balls are provided and can be borrowed at the gate / Pforte (May-Sep) between 5 and 8 pm. If you are looking for teammates, we can introduce you to a group which meets here for some matches every once in a while and maintains the court.
Many hands make light work.
The field is ideal for beach volleyball tournaments – we are delighted at your pleasure and passion.
Send us an email to:
beachball@kuehlhaus-goerlitz.de
Burn off energy playing beach volleyball with friends after work.
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& is illuminated again – its light and its symbolic power have moved into the Kühlhaus.
It is a symbol for shared identy, a symbol for the neighbourhood between Görlitz and Zgorzelec, Germany and Poland. This piece of art was created by Krzysztof Furtas and was part of the exhibition “Görlitzer Art” in 2016, an exhibition of art in public space in cooperation with the Polish city Wroclaw. Back then it illuminated Wilhelm’s square in the town centre night by night. After the exhibition was ended in 2017, the installation was maintained by the town, and later the former cold storage became its new home.
The light installation comes to its own at events.
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We say hello! Cześć!
Where once employees of the former cold storage facilities were received every day, guests are being welcomed since summer 2020. The gate (German: Pforte) now serves as info centre, reception, and kiosk.
Work is the best jacket – Danilo, Jürgen and Klemens pitch in at wintry temperatures.
The small kiosk provides beverages and creates a cosy atmosphere.
Not only do overnight visitors check in here every day between 5 and 8pm. Visitors can also rent a stylish RADFLOTTE GDR-bike here to explore Görlitz and its surroundings.
The social-cultural long-term project “Kühlhaus Görlitz” shows a way how abandoned (industrial) buildings can be repurposed reasonably and in alternative ways. The people with the absolute desire to revitalise this industrial monument are, and always have been, the most important reason the Kühlhaus-project is realised at all. People striving after taking responsibility and follow their visions. For the city, for the residents and for themselves.
The many years of voluntary work for the association and beyond created a solid base for an open-minded venue. Always having an eye on preserving the charm of its monumental industrial architecture. We follow the philosophy of healthy growth from within ourselves in order to stay independent. The lack of available resources produces more creativity and improvisation; thus, the whole area is characterised by a vivid self-made flair and is still property of Frigolanda Dresdner Kühlhaus GmbH. The owner, Hans Van Leeuwen, could be convinced of the idea to repurpose the industrial wasteland into a project for the common good and has been supporting it since 2008.
Today the Kühlhaus is a lively place again, where people can meet, work, relax and learn together. We have been trying out alternative possible uses at the edge of town for the last 12 years and welcome everybody – whether adult or child, young or old, resident or visitor.
The reception in organic design.
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