The Upper Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) in eastern Germany are shaped not only by their topographic conditions but also by the industrial monuments that emerged from them. The waterpower of the fast-flowing rivers, and later steam power, made Saxony one of the world’s leading industrial regions. In light of the profound structural changes after 1990 and the associated economic decline, this period of industrial prosperity today seems almost forgotten. A material testimony to this era can be found in the Saxon spinning mills, whose architecture still bears witness to that time. Many of them are now abandoned and vacant, forming part of a significant industrial heritage that is acutely threatened with disappearance.

This thesis is dedicated to the Venusberg II spinning mill near Drebach, which remained in operation until 2022. The approximately 20-hectare, densely built ensemble is still comparatively well preserved but shows the first signs of decay. Without a viable reuse, this valuable monument is at risk of being lost.  The concept of the thesis envisions restoring the factory halls to productive use while maintaining commercial interim uses in other buildings. Only a combination of different functions can revitalize the entire site. Demolition is planned where dilapidated structures or overlaid layers impair future operations or the legibility of history. At the same time, the site is to be opened up in order to strengthen its role as an identity-shaping element for the region.

Indoor agriculture is proposed as the new production. It closes a historical and economic gap, strengthens regional food supply, follows sustainable future strategies, and can be well integrated into the existing building structure. The realization of a project on this scale requires a step-by-step approach over a longer period of time. The project demonstrates how multi-story cultivation can be implemented, how roof areas can provide additional growing space, and how waste heat can be put to meaningful use. An energy concept incorporates regional resources such as the Markersbach pumped-storage power plant and a nearby wind farm.

This thesis positions itself as a contribution to the discussion of how the reactivation of industrial heritage can generate impulses for regional development and how forgotten sites can be transformed into new spaces for the future.