The “REh” – an animal character embedded in a tourist concept

In December 2022 the time had come: the first of 15 “REh” sandstone objects was freed from its transport box and has been standing on the historic city wall in Recklinghausen ever since. This project required almost two years of conceptual and technical preparatory work. The result is a unique character that fits perfectly into this lively city.

The concept

When the Recklinghausen design studio “crosscreative” approached the city marketing department of the city of Recklinghausen with the concept of its own city figure, the team was met with open ears. There had been similar ideas for a long time, but nothing had fit until then. Recklinghausen has a fascinating history and an exceptionally beautiful cityscape, but there was simply no bear in the coat of arms and no town musicians either. The concept was further refined in a lengthy process. Ultimately, the choice fell on “REh”, a play on words from the first letters of the city. The deer is also an animal that reminds us of our responsibility towards nature.

When implementing this idea, it quickly became clear that it couldn't be an overly naturalistic form; cross-connections to Bambi and Co. would be established too quickly. Instead, the REh should have a modern, contemporary design. It should not only be a reminder of the city's history, but also a symbol of the forward-looking people of Recklinghausen. The design process ultimately resulted in a polygonal outer shell and a confident, forward-facing pose of the figure.

The REh can be used as a “selfie spot”, but a tourist concept has also been developed that invites you to take a “REh tour” through the entire city. With the help of a digital app, Recklinghausen residents and especially tourists have the chance to get to know the entire city area through the REhe. Citizens or visitors are encouraged to go on a journey and “collect” the deer in the app - an innovative concept that uses modern technology to experience this unique, historic city.

Collect deer and explore the city! - The REh app

A QR code has been attached to each REh, which can be scanned with the app. The app allows you to view location information (for example, historical and tourist information about the current location and restaurant tips). The core, however, is an attractive competition that rewards those who have been to all REh locations. The REhe can be "collected" in the app. Anyone who has collected all of the REhe takes part in a big competition - there are attractive prizes to be won.

Planning, implementation and production of the REhe

The designer Tom Nassal gives insights into the production of the REhe: “As with our city gate project, the development should be contemporary and modern, the production should then be carried out in an archaic way - that is, today and yesterday combined in the production process. The REh was constructed using various 3D programs, which are also used to create prototypes for products. Thanks to this technology, the development statuses could always be checked in 3D printing. In this way, the manufacturing process that was determined in parallel could be further optimized for production. Finding the balance between object design and feasibility was challenging.”

The basic idea was to make a figure out of a natural material. The implementation of the so-called “animal parades” in colorfully painted fiberglass was ruled out from the start for sustainability reasons. However, many available materials and processes showed weaknesses, so sandstone was ultimately chosen. A specialist in Austria worked with a concrete factory to develop a castable sandstone mixture. In close collaboration, the design and process were then optimized so that larger quantities of the REh could be produced.

The sand casting process is comparable to the medieval stone casting process, which was used, for example, to produce images of saints in churches. The Austrian art production company “3D Kunst” was responsible for the sand casting and the bronze part. The vignettes were cast in the same alloy as the city gate plates.

Why a deer?

All Recklinghausen already have the RE on their license plate anyway - but what is often not clear to outsiders: Recklinghausen - that also means a lot of nature. Recklinghausen – that also means forests, meadows, lakes and streams, nature reserves and lots of fresh air. Recklinghausen – that also means ecological responsibility and sustainable thinking. The REh stands for all of this!

It is also a wonderful symbol of the closeness to nature within the city. It doesn't seem screamingly loud, there's nothing intrusive about it and it doesn't force itself into a role. And it's just lovely. Our valuable history and our path to a more sustainable future – that is the story of the “REhs”.