Ateliers Centraux d’Ougrée
THE ABANDONED WORKSHOP IN BELGIUM
‘Ateliers Centraux d’Ougrée’ are the repair workshops, storage halls and offices of Cockerill, a big steel plant. It is situated in the heart of the steel industry, the Liege region in Belgium.
Explore the rich history of our site, dating back to 1854 when it first saw the dawn of industrialization with the establishment of a zinc oxide plant. The zinc oxide was used in paint and coatings to prevent corrosion. Zinc oxide is also a component of many other materials and tools, for example concrete, rubber, and glass. In the 1860s, a foundry was erected, further cementing the site’s significance in the industrial landscape. These original activities persisted until the late 1920s, marking a significant era of industrial prowess.
Ougrée-Marihaye
In 1937, the renowned Ougrée-Marihaye company acquired the site, initiating a transformative phase. Consequently, they partly demolished the zinc plant to construct these large industrial halls. A railroad crosses the site from west to east, facilitating the transportation of cast iron between the blast furnaces and the steelworks.
Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, the Cockerill-Ougrée company spearheaded extensive renovations and reorganization efforts, enlarging the halls and adapting their use to meet evolving industrial demands. This period reflects a dynamic interplay between tradition and innovation, shaping the site’s identity as a testament to industrial heritage.
Economic crisis
Activities gradually slowed down in the late 1990s.
After the year 2000, the company discontinues both maintenance and storage activities, leaving only a few small buildings utilized as offices or depots, while the Ateliers Centraux are abandoned. The company falls victim to the crisis, and the site remains unused immediately after the closure of the two blast furnaces, HF6 and HFB. At that time, the steel factory goes by the name ArcelorMittal, the culmination of numerous mergers with other steel plants over the years.
I took the photos of the abandoned ‘Ateliers Centraux d’Ougrée’ during two visits in 2017 and 2018. The building is scheduled for reconversion soon. The rehabilitation of the site began in 2021, and part of the buildings will be demolished. The new site will eventually house a new car park, offices, a pedestrian/bicycle bridge, a park, and a music hall.
