Cheng Xu
Leny Quarry | Revival of an abandoned landscape
Follow:
Recalibrate
Project description
In the history and process of mining, humans have left many caves and traces. Limestone was mined, and the establishment of the quarry brought employment and income to the people, but also brought some problems. Over time, some quarries were abandoned. Quarries after the human extractions stopped and they started to recover, and a new topography that was not there before was created. This project takes abandoned landscapes as the lens. Ecological succession from very rocky surfaces to eventually trees. Quarries are fantastic places for wildlife, such as wild bees, butterflies, and small birds. Besides, these are rich in geological and cultural history.
This semester, I choose Leny Quarry as my site from the five quarries of the previous term. Due to its unique history, specific topography, and current conditions, it is also an important fossil discovery site, and many researchers come here to research rocks and fossils. The quarry faces many problems, such as piled-up gravel and waterlogged roads. If no action is taken, it will become more deserted, soil and rock erosion, and species are gradually declining. These problems can be solved by design.
The natural value of the Leny Quarry lies in the biodiversity and physical rock. My research aims to transform this abandoned limestone quarry through interventions that make the site more accessible, express and preserve the hidden history of the site, and design functional areas where people can experience history, providing enrichment for tourists and the scientific community experiences that drive economic and social development. At the same time, create an ecological habitat for various wildlife such as birds. It links nature and people through the regeneration of the quarry.
Proposed Base Plan
I want to keep mountains, mounds of limestone, cliff, some of the path networks, and some of the vegetation. These have human cultural value, the physical rock value, and the kind of biodiversity value to people. I add some functional areas, paths, ponds, and new vegetation. I use different colours to show different plants. I want to design a habitat that can link to other habitats. After redesigning, people can experience this abandoned landscape, including the geology of the fossils and the geological history.
Proposed Base Plan
Historical Development
Different fossil models
Dynamic system
Dynamic system
Aerial View
This is a wireframe diagram where I identify all important species and show the relationship between animal and plant species and the dynamics.
Aerial View
I choose a view that allows us to see where interventions are. It has a broad perspective that shows most of my designs. Through the difference in light, shade, and colour, people can understand the foreground and distant background, as well as the interior of the quarry. People can see this area and all the new trees, water, materials, and new activities.
Aerial View
Detail Drawing: Cairn
This drawing shows limestone cairns, how way finders might be designed, and what more-than-human communities can live in them.
It represents the animals and the small-scale plants in reality. These spaces in between can provide habitat.
People can carry a stone on their journey and have a very clear memory of doing that. It is a way of connecting people to places as well.
Detail Section
Visualisation
Main road
Picnic area
Hiking trail
Viewing platform
Research platform
Fossil hunting trail
Cheng Xu
Leny Quarry | Revival of an abandoned landscape
Follow:
Share:
