THE SPINNEREI
An Industrial Zone Makes History
The premises are singular – not just in Germany, but throughout Europe. Historically, the Spinnerei (Spinning Works) in Leipzig was one of the most successful production sites and industrial operations for cotton. Today, it continues to make history through its ongoing transformation into one of the most dynamic cultural locales anywhere. Hence the Spinnerei’s pithy motto: from cotton to culture.
The Spinnerei emblematizes the pioneering successes of the New Leipzig School and of Neo Rauch, but also features singular industrial architecture that is rarely seen today on such a scale and in such a state of preservation. Found today on the areal alongside studios and galleries are a cinema, a dance center, and a café.
History of a vision
At the beginning stands the vision of a bold industrialist. It was Dr. Karl Heine who transformed this marshy area in Leipziger Westen into arable land. In the 19th century, when the demand for cotton grew enormously worldwide, and cotton thread had to be imported, mainly from England and Switzerland, he joined forces with a group of industrialists to found the Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei (Leipzig cotton spinning mill) in the form of a stock company. On June 21, 1884 the Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei was entered into the commercial register. That same year, the first spinning mill was constructed, and work began with five spinning machines.
As early as March of the following year, production had reached 30,000 spindles, and together with the associated preliminary work, was running at full capacity. But that was just the beginning. Added in the years leading up to 1907 were additional spinning mills, finance divisions, production halls, and administration buildings. During this period, the Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei grew to become the largest spinning works in all of Europe.
Restless times
War, inflation, and social unrest did not leave the enterprise unscathed. The National Socialists too invested in the Spinnerei. Here, thread was produced for military uniforms. In 1946, it became a publicly-owned enterprise. With the fall of the Berlin wall, thread production at the Spinnerei came to an end. In the early 2000’s, galleries and artists took advantage of the complex’s striking spaces. Today, the Spinnerei is among the most interesting cultural locales in Europe.
Es ist ein einzigartiges Gelände, nicht nur in Deutschland, sondern Europa weit. Die Spinnerei in Leipzig war in seiner Geschichte nicht nur einer der erfolgreichsten Produktionsstätten und Industriebetriebe für Baumwolle, sondern schrieb ihre Geschichte in die Gegenwart fort, indem sich das Gelände bis heute zu einem der umtriebigsten Kulturorte wandelte. Nicht umsonst heißt das Motto: from cotton to culture.