Karl Ganser
Karl Ganser (1937–2022) decisively shaped the urban and regional development of North Rhine-Westphalia with his vision of an industrial cultural landscape and his thoughtful approach to urban renewal. As a kind of father of the new Ruhr area (according to former German President Johannes Rau in 1999), Ganser paved the way for numerous projects – especially as part of the Emscher Park international building exhibition – that continue to define the region and public perception of the Ruhr area to this day.