In the heart of Freiburg’s Betzenhausen district, the Gaskugel stands tall. It’s more than just a sphere; it’s a silent storyteller. The Gaskugel, also known as the Gaskugel Betzenhausen, held the city’s breath, its precious reserve of natural gas, from 1965 to 2019. Its story begins with controversy. In 1963, the community of Betzenhausen resisted the construction of this giant gas holder. The original plan was to build it in Lehen, but they refused. So, the Freiburg city council chose this spot, a designated conservation area between the Dreisam River and Mühlbach creek. The Gaskugel Freiburg, as it was christened in 1964 by Mayor Eugen Keidel, was born out of necessity. The transition from town gas to natural gas required a larger storage capacity. The Gaskugel also helped balance the fluctuating gas consumption between day and night. The gas, flowing in through high-pressure pipelines, was reduced from 67 bar to 7 bar at a station right next to the Gaskugel. Interestingly, it wasn’t designed for long-term emergencies. The entire stored volume could be consumed by the city in mere hours. This 40-meter-high sphere, with its light grey steel surface, held a staggering 120,000 cubic meters of natural gas, compressed at 6 bar. The Gaskugel weighs a massive 585 tons. Look closely, and you’ll see a wind rose. This artistic touch was added in the early 1980s, the winning design by Berlin artist Aiga Müller. The Gaskugel was decommissioned in July 2019 due to technical and economic reasons, though it remained safe until the very end thanks to regular TÜV inspections. The adjacent building, still connected to the network, continues to measure and regulate gas pressure. But the Gaskugel’s story isn’t over. Declared a protected monument in 2019, it stands as a testament to Freiburg’s industrial past. Citizen groups and local organizations are working to give it a new life, perhaps as a planetarium, exhibition space, or even a garden café. The Gaskugel, once a source of energy, is now a beacon of hope and creativity, waiting for its next chapter to unfold.
Straßenwalze
Picture this a relic of Freiburg’s past. A Straßenwalze a road roller sits before you. Its iron frame speaks of