Not far from the Wilopark, at Phoenix Lake in Dortmund-Hörde, the temporary, walk-in artwork “Urban Space Station” (USS) was created as part of the “Emscherkunst” exhibition series. Initiated by American artist and scientist Natalie Jeremijenko, this environmentally focused work represented a forward-looking symbiosis of art and sustainability. The Wilo-Foundation supported this innovative art project, which highlights future-oriented and environmentally conscious ways of improving the quality of life in major cities and metropolitan regions such as the Ruhr area.
The greenhouse-like structure was installed on the roof of a building complex and was directly connected to the climate control and ventilation systems as well as the wastewater pipes. Inside the “Urban Space Station”, wastewater, carbon dioxide and organic waste from the building were efficiently recycled to grow plants. These plants, in turn, contributed to oxygen production and water purification, with the treated water being fed back into the building.
