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Future Garden Duisburg
Cities & Culture
Experience transformation: IGA 2027 in the Ruhr region
From 23 April to 17 October 2027, the International Garden Exhibition (IGA) will open its gates in the Ruhr region. What is taking shape here is much more than a flower show: under the guiding theme “How do we want to live tomorrow?”, the metropolitan region will present ideas and projects for urban development, open spaces and parks on an international stage.
A former coking plant becomes a park, a former coal bunker is transformed into a new landmark, and trails along the Emscher invite visitors to walk and cycle: at the International Garden Exhibition 2027, the Ruhr region continues to write its story. Industrial sites, river landscapes and urban spaces are gradually being transformed into places for the future, designed to endure long beyond the exhibition year. Garden design, changing seasonal plantings and an extensive programme of cultural events add to the experience.
In five Future Gardens, discover new perspectives for cities, new open spaces and ways of coming together in public spaces.
The Rhine as the city’s new focal point
More than 150 years of industrial history have shaped the site of today’s RheinPark in Duisburg-Hochfeld. With IGA 2027, the Rhine is moving into the spotlight. The park is opening up towards the river, with new green spaces and places to relax complementing its characteristic meadows and relics of its industrial past. Visitors can look forward to changing seasonal plantings, perennial displays, trees and shrubs – including heat- and drought-resistant roses combined with Mediterranean plants and grasses. Illuminated at night, a Skywalk offers new perspectives of the river and the city.
Interesting sights:
- Kultushafen
- Parkband in the heart of RheinPark
- Skywalk
Future Garden Gelsenkirchen
Green and blue on the Emscher Island
Nordsternpark’s history already reflects the transformation of the Ruhr region. Where coal was mined for more than 130 years, a new park landscape was created for the 1997 Federal Garden Show. IGA 2027 continues this development, focusing on water and the design of open spaces. Between the Rhine-Herne Canal and the Emscher, a landscape of water features and green spaces is taking shape. Rainwater is collected and channelled through perennials and grasses. The former turning basin of the Nordstern colliery will be permanently opened to the public. A Climate Walk leads through ten gardens featuring different planting concepts.
Interesting sights:
- Greentower
- Former turning basin of the Nordstern colliery
- Succession forest in the western part of the Emscher Island
Future Garden Dortmund
Industrial heritage gets a new neighbourhood
Conveyor belts, coke oven batteries and machinery still tell the story of Dortmund’s industrial past at the Hansa Coking Plant. The last batch of coke was pushed here in 1992. For IGA 2027, this industrial monument will become the starting point for a new recreational landscape. Behind it, the new Kokereipark will feature meadows, garden art and spaces for play and physical activity. The large-scale “Wolke” (“Cloud”) sculpture recalls the clouds of steam once produced by the coking plant. The new “Haldensprung” connection will take pedestrians and cyclists to the green Deusenberg, with viewpoints and a mountain bike trail.
Interesting sights:
- Hansa Coking Plant
- Kokereipark
- Activity Garden
- Mooskamp Local Transport Museum
Future Garden Emscherland
Life by the river
Between Castrop-Rauxel and Recklinghausen, Emscherland brings the transformation of an entire river landscape to life. Around the restored Emscher, waterside areas, Emscher terraces, orchards and traditional cottage gardens invite visitors to explore. A striking landmark is the “Sprung über die Emscher” (“Leap across the Emscher”): the sweeping pedestrian and cycle bridge spans the point where the Emscher and Rhine-Herne Canal cross.
Future Garden Lünen
A new beginning by the water
On the site of the former Victoria colliery in Lünen, a new park landscape is taking shape between the city centre, the River Lippe and the Datteln-Hamm Canal. Meadows, wild perennials, water features and areas for play and physical activity shape the site. New pedestrian and cycle bridges across the Lippe connect the city with the surrounding landscape – reflecting the guiding theme “Landscape in Motion”.
“I hope the IGA will inspire the feeling: Yes, this is how we want to live tomorrow. If we achieve that, we will have done everything right.”
Hanspeter Faas, Spokesman of the Management Board, IGA 2027 Ruhrgebiet gGmbH
Cultural programme and hands-on activities
Flowers and garden design are only part of the programme. Around 6,000 events are planned over the 178 days of the exhibition. The programme ranges from music, theatre and light art to science, environmental education, sports and family activities. As diverse as the Ruhr region itself, it offers events for all ages and interests.
IGA Cycle Route
Anyone wishing to experience the IGA as a journey through the Ruhr region can explore it by bike. Covering around 100 kilometres, the new IGA Cycle Route connects all five Future Gardens and passes through ten cities. The route mainly follows existing cycle paths and links up with the radrevier.ruhr cycling network. From the saddle, the unique geography of this garden exhibition becomes particularly clear: the route passes former industrial sites, restored river landscapes and parks.