Duisburg blows up another "White Giant"

The more than 60-meter-tall building, which once housed 160 apartments, was brought down as planned at noon on Sunday. An initial explosion caused the building to topple, followed by a second explosion that caused it to collapse. According to the city, there were no complications.

This is the third and final "White Giant" to be demolished. Following this, the city plans to redevelop the Hochheide district, which has been considered a social hotspot for years.

The high-rise area in the west of the city has regularly made headlines in recent years. Targeted inspections have uncovered large-scale welfare fraud. Logistics companies like DHL have at times refused to deliver to the buildings, deeming them too dangerous for employees.

The North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Construction alone supported the demolition of the problem high-rise buildings with 32.7 million euros. The demolition is an important step toward improving the residential area, said Construction Minister Ina Scharrenbach (CDU). "The third 'White Giant' is coming down – making way for light, air, and a new urban history."

The Hochheide residential park, with its six "White Giants," was built in the early 1970s. The modern apartments in the 20-story high-rises were sought after by Duisburg's working class. However, the neighborhood's decline began in the 1980s. Today, only three of the "White Giants" are still occupied.