James Turrell, the "sculptor of light" born in 1943, forms the starting point for the transformation of one of the last remaining relics of hard coal mining in Oelsnitz/Erzgebirge. The result is an art gallery built within the structure of a former blacksmith's shop from the 1920s at the former Kaiserin-Augusta-Schacht mine.

The 81-year-old American, Turrell, achieved worldwide fame as the "sculptor of light." "Light is something we normally only use to illuminate other things," he once said about his work. "I'm interested in light that has a thing-like quality in itself, that doesn't just illuminate other things, but becomes illumination itself.“

Entitled "Beyond Horizons 2025," the artwork completes the "Purple Path," the art and sculpture trail that connects Chemnitz, the European Capital of Culture 2025, with more than 30 locations in the surrounding region. The art trail follows the narrative "Everything comes from the mountain." The artworks typically consist of minerals formerly mined in the Ore Mountains, such as ore, copper, tin, cobalt, and kaolin, as well as materials essential to mining, like wood and light.

Visitors can expect a three-dimensional, walk-in light sculpture in a shadowless space. Changing light colors blur the boundaries of space and time.

Between 1844 and 1971, 142 million tons of coal were mined from the shafts of the Lugau-Oelsnitz coalfield; the forge, built in 1923, was part of the mine's infrastructure.
The site of the former Hall 18 offers approximately 1,600 m² of space and a setting for James Turrell's light artwork, representing a radically new approach to understanding listed industrial heritage.

The original three-aisled industrial building could not be preserved due to its completely dilapidated condition. The entire steel framework, including the crane track, was dismantled, restored based on the original findings, and more than 60% rebuilt.

Within this structure, which makes the almost lost original form visible again, a new building was developed in the former central nave. This new structure exists within the tension between the significance of James Turrell and the importance of the site and its history. The architecture had to be both restrained in relation to the interior and powerful enough to hold its own within the context. Two opposing forces that had to be reconciled.

Starting with a windowless shell and a completely simplified, primitive form on the east gable, the facade unfolds along its longitudinal axis to form a portal that serves two functions. Firstly, it connects to the region's history by evoking associations with the motif of a mine entrance, which are continued perspectively inside. This design simultaneously creates a pull, focusing attention on the artwork within.

Finally, a word about the materials: We placed great emphasis on a handcrafted look for the surfaces – cast-in-place concrete with a broom finish, the restored steel structure, and a Corten steel facade. This material mediates between the different brick surfaces of the surrounding area and develops a vibrant patina over time. At the same time, it recalls the original purpose of the old forge – metaphorically speaking, one could say that the art gallery is the last piece of work produced there.

Hall 18 | Beyond Horizons 2025
Transformation of Hall 18 within the framework of sustainable urban development

Category: Public, Industrial, Interior, Open Space
Client: City of Oelsnitz/Erzgebirge.
Interim User: European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025
Artwork: James Turrell, Beyond Horizons 2025
Courtesy: Häusler Contemporary Zürich AG
Funding Programs: State Brownfield Program, Urban Development Funding, FR-Regio

Design: Hendrik Heine | Katja Heine | Matthias Lanzendorf

Services: Building Design Phases I + II, Phases 1–9; Landscape Architecture, Structural Engineering Phase I, Fire Protection, Sound Insulation, Thermal Insulation, Health and Safety
Project Partners: Lanzendorf Landscape Architecture, Schälzky Civil Engineers, Rolf Sattler Engineering Office for Occupational Safety

Photos: Florian Holzherr | Hendrik Heine
Start of Services: July 2023
Completion: November 2025