Imposing Medial Spectacle

The Indemann Observation Tower: A Luminescent Landmark

The Indemann was designed by the Maastricht architecture firm Maurer United Architects as a symbol of the exemplary structuralpolitical evolution of a former mining region. This 36 meter high, accessible steel sculpture, built on a brown coal dump near Inden, resembles a primitive robot. The Indemann gets its unique radiance from Illumesh®, a semitransparent skin made of stainless steel mesh with interwoven LED profiles. During the day, the metallic surface shimmers and reflects light, then at night, a spectacular computercontrolled light show comes to life. The mesh system is a cooperative development of GKD – Gebr. Kufferath AG, Düren, and ag4 media facade GmbH, Cologne; the companies hold the global patent jointly. In Germany it has been used only once: on the Indemann.