This project focuses on a remarkable example of structural innovation that no longer exists in its original form. Through extensive digital modeling, historical research and immersive visualization, the cooling tower was reconstructed as a navigable virtual environment. The VR application allows visitors to understand the scale and spatial qualities of the structure while exploring its historical context. Rather than emphasizing technical analysis alone, the project reveals how engineering achievements can be experienced directly, transforming archival knowledge into a vivid and memorable encounter.
The Cable Net Cooling Tower of the Hamm-Uentrop nuclear plant was a globally unique structure, replacing the traditional concrete shell with a network of 540 high-strength steel cables.
Built between 1973 and 1974, it stood as a visionary example of lightweight engineering before its demolition in 1991. For this project, we digitally reconstructed the tower based on historical plans, photographs, and engineering data.
