Textilwerk Turbine, Germany

Textilwerk Turbine is a former, now abandoned, textile factory in Germany. It is located in the former German Democratic Republic. The factory was constructed in the 1930s, and it is uncertain how long it has not been in use. The site has likely been derelict for several decades. Much of the building now exhibits beautiful natural decay.

The textile factory is a local monument and relic of the area’s industrial past. In spring 2019, workers carried out preservation work on the 60m tall chimney. The chimney was shortened by several meters, as the structure was at risk of toppling.

A western German resident owned the site for many years. The current owner runs a car repair company in a nearby city. He plans to install solar panels on the roof of the factory. Beyond these initial plans, the future of the old textile factory is uncertain.

1930s textile factory turbine hall

Sadly, the large sprawling factory has been all but stripped bare. Very little machinery or equipment remain on-site of Textilwerk Turbine.

A few interesting pieces of vintage machines remain in the on-site power plant. The powerplant is sometimes called “Baby Power Plant”. Inside the turbine hall is a single turbine. Spillingwerk engineering, of Hamburg, manufactured this turbine. The turbine was once painted a vivid cobalt blue. Nowadays the paint has faded and is flaking. Rust and corrosion are gradually replacing the once bright blue paint job. A patchy veneer of lime-green mold contrasts with the pale blue. The mold seems to highlight areas where direct sunlight filters through the large Art Deco windows.

In addition to the turbine room, there is an adjoining boiler house. Piles of coal lay on standby, ready to stoke furnaces that have been cold for decades.

We visited Textilwerk Turbine as part of the Easter Tour 2018 of eastern Germany.