BUWOG Bauträger GmbH has announced the start of the dismantling of the historic water tower on the former MD site in Dachau. This measure is the first step towards the renovation of the industrial monument. A specialist company will completely dismantle the tower, store the individual parts on the site, and re-erect them after the restoration work is complete. The dismantling began on 10 August 2026 and is expected to be finished by the end of the month. This work marks visible progress in the development of the area.
The water tower, a significant landmark of the former paper mill, will be disassembled into three main components: the water tank with the upper platform, the upper part of the supporting structure, and the lower part of the supporting structure. For the dismantling, BUWOG is using a mobile 700-tonne crane. The work will be carried out from the courtyard side of the site, with no impact on road traffic on Ludwig-Thoma-Straße.
Comprehensive Protection and Professional Restoration
During the renovation phase, the dismantled tower parts will be stored on site and comprehensively protected from weather influences. For this purpose, separate weather protection structures with scaffolding, a roof, and a fine-mesh protective netting will be erected for each component. These measures ensure the protection of the historic steel components from precipitation while allowing adequate ventilation. The temporary deconstruction of the tower creates optimal conditions for a professional restoration of all components.
Moritz Reinhold, head of the Urban Planning Office of the City of Dachau, commented positively on the project, emphasising that the renovation of the water tower sends a strong signal for the responsible handling of the city's industrial heritage. He highlighted that BUWOG, with this elaborate approach, demonstrates how heritage protection and urban development can be reconciled. Michael Gerstner, project manager for the MD site at BUWOG, described the water tower as an identity-forming structure and a familiar landmark for many citizens of Dachau. He stressed that the dismantling is not a demolition measure, but rather the necessary first step for a comprehensive renovation and subsequent reconstruction, in order to permanently preserve the industrial monument.
Historical Significance and Future Prospects
The water tower, a steel structure dating from 1951, was erected on the filter hall and, until 2007, secured the freshwater supply during paper production with a capacity of 240 cubic metres for a maximum of 20 minutes. With the heritage-compliant renovation, BUWOG is preserving an important testimony to Dachau's industrial history and integrating the widely visible landmark into the future development of the quarter.
- —The development of an urban quarter is planned on the approximately 18-hectare site.
- —The future quarter is intended to offer high quality of stay and diverse uses.
- —In addition to high-quality residential construction, attractive green spaces are planned, particularly along the Amper and the Mühlbach.
- —A statutory resolution for the development plan is expected by mid-2027.
