Gollin celebrates 650 years: art at the transformer station shines again!

Gollin celebrates 650 years: art at the transformer station shines again!

Gollin is celebrating a very special event this year: the village is turning 650 years old! The first written mention of the small town dates back to 1375. To properly honor this long history, comprehensive celebrations are planned for July 18th and 19th, organized by none other than local mayor Cordelia Slingerland. A highlight will be the newly designed transformer station on site, which is now not only functional but also a real eye-catcher visually. As nordkurier.de reports, the facade of the transformer station was redesigned according to the Golliners' wishes. The client was Edis Netz GmbH, and the artist Mario Winkler from Motivwunsch was responsible for the implementation.

Creatively upgrading transformer stations is not a new idea. EDIS has been commissioning artists to artistically design the often inconspicuous facilities for over 20 years. Such projects are becoming more and more important throughout Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The motifs are developed on site in consultation with local officials. The aim is to better integrate the facilities into the townscape. Around 1,000 euros are spent per work of art. However, the costs for the Golliner transformer station were higher because it is a larger switching station. The design was implemented in close collaboration with the mayor of Templin, Christian Hartphiel (SPD), who was also present at the handover and plans to take part in the anniversary celebration.

Art and technology combined

The design options for transformer stations are very diverse. As a rule, they tell small stories, such as the depiction of chickens and chicks at the Gollin transformer station. However, these new designs are not only pleasing to the eye but also have technical advantages. EDIS, as one of the largest regional energy network operators in Germany, operates a total of over 20,000 transformer stations. Continuous modernization, which also includes elements such as modern communication, measurement and control technology, enables a faster response to network disruptions and contributes to the security of network operations.

The artistic facade design is part of a larger concept that was started 18 years ago and in which EDIS works with several service providers. There is currently a waiting list as demand for such projects is extremely high. This shows that not only the practical use of the transformer stations, but also their aesthetic appearance is very important. In the municipality of Hennickendorf, for example, a transformer station was also redesigned with local motifs, which was designed in coordination with the municipal administration. These projects not only contribute to the beautification of places, but also promote the identity and sense of community of the residents.

In the background is a well thought-out financial concept that enables EDIS to provide an annual budget for facade design. This is done in close coordination with the municipalities and on site. These days, such projects are more than just cosmetic corrections. They are part of the strategy for sensibly combining art and modern technology in communities.