Esther Brun - Master of Landscape Architecture - MIN(e)Dscape

Esther Brun MIN(e)Dscape The transformation of Canada’s future industrial heritage Julianastraat 44 Purmerend +31 6 24231644 e.brun@planet.nl http://www.linkedin.com/pub/esther-brun/6/630/2b7

Amsterdam Academy of Architecture Graduation Projects 2016-2017

Landscape Architecture

Esther Brun MIN(e)Dscape The transformation of Canada’s future industrial heritage

MIN(e)Dscape offers a strategy for the reclamation of the oil sand mining landscape in the north of Alberta, Canada.

The main objective of the strategy is the preservation of Canada’s future industrial heritage by means of transformation of the landscape into nature with significant ecological value and diversity. The strategy proves the expediency of the mining landscape as a proficient base for nature development.

MIN(e)Dscape is founded on two pillars, Culture and Nature, merged together in an overall framework. The cultural frame is focused on education, information and the experience of the mining landscape. The current image of the oil sands is extremely negative due to the impact of the industry on nature, the climate and the landscape. This negative image is mainly based on the campaigns of environmental organisations and is not based on personal experience. My assumption is that by increasing the accessibility and knowledge of the landscape the greater public will attain a different connection with the landscape. As a old Dutch saying goes: ‘unknown, unloved’.

The Cultural Frame consists of three elements: the (already existing) Oil Sand Discovery Centre in Fort.McMurray, de ‘Drilling Tower’ look-outs and the ‘Timeless Quarry’ museum park with educational route ‘Timeline’. At the discovery centre, the public will learn all about the theoretical side of the oil sand mining process, the emergence and discovery of the material and of course existing reclamation methods. The ‘Drilling Towers’ are introduced to let visitors become acquainted with the landscape. It is a network of 13 look-outs, strategically placed within the area. From each lookout, a different stage of the mining landscape can be witnessed. This gives you the opportunity to observe the theory becoming reality and observe the transformation of the landscape. ‘Timeless Quarry’ museum park offers a view into the future. The park is situated in an old open pit mine and showcases all the possible reclamation landscapes from the start up to the state after natural transformation. The park also provides the opportunity to experience the extreme scale and size of the mining landscape from a human perspective. In summary, the cultural framework will introduce the public to all aspects of the oil sand industry and show the magnificence of the mining landscape and the opportunities it provides for the future.

The Natural Frame focuses on the future by preserving parts of the existing boreal landscape in the present day. By maintaining a zone of old growth boreal forest, a life seed bank will be secured for the pollination of adjacent reclamation sites in the future. The Natural Frame also incorporates a ecological corridor that can be used by the highly endangered Woodland Caribou amongst others.

The completion of the frame is focused on the transformation of the former mining landscape into nature, specifically designed for three target species which are: the woodland caribou, the wood buffalo and the whooping crane. All of these animals are endangered or affected by the oil sand industry. This results in also three different landscape typologies native to the area; mixed forest, open plains of grasses and sedges and wetlands. These nature typologies will be set on the mining topography. In this way, each characteristic element of the mining landscape will transform into its own new natural landscape. The open pit is provides an eloquent base for the open grass fields, the overburden hills will transform into mixed forests and the tailing ponds offer a sufficient topographical base for the transformation into secluded wetlands. The remaining infrastructure and building sites will be allocated to either open plains or mixed forest, according to their location within the total area.

In this way the MIN(e)Dscape strategy and design presents an alternative to traditional reclamation methods that erase the typical mining landscape and thereby the future industrial heritage of Canada. Implementing the MIN(e)Dscape strategy will involve people with the industry and the landscape in particular; slowly conquering a place in society and culture, and hopefully also their hearts.

Graduation date 30 06 2016

Commission members Gloria Font (mentor) Mirjam Koevoet Rik de Visser

Additional members for the examination Rob de Leeuw Berdie Olthof

Esther Brun

Landscape Architecture Canada

Area where oil sand can be mined using open pit method; 4,750km2. In comparison the Provice of Gelderland measures: 4,975km2.

Impression of the oil sand mining landscape, nearly 750km2 has already been mined.

Context.

before

Boreal landscape; micro topography, very wet soil profile during

Mining landscape

during

after

during

after

Traditionally reclaimed landscape

Concept: Now/During Active Mining Create the initial framework of broadend boundaries for the cultural and natural framework.

Future/After Active Mining Nature development based on typical mining topography and characteristic elements.

Vision MIN(e)Dscape; preservation of the characteristic topography and elements of the mining landscape

basic frame -100 mtr wide START

TRANSFORMATION BY NATURE

overburden = mixed forest minimum width to keep dark core of 20 m due to edge effect.

Basic frame 100m wide: • life seed bank; pollination of adjacent reclaimed landscape • during mining; shelter for small animals

elements of the mining landscape: • overburden • open pit • tailing pond

open-pit = grass & sedges

open pit becomes lake/wetland

tailing pond = wetland

wetland becomes wet forest

infra = grass & sedges/mixed forest

new landscape Ecological corridor min 500m wide: • preserves habitat of woodland caribou for the future when the mined landscape is being reclaimed • provides connection between adjacing habitats

transformed landscape

Rules for transformation of the characteristic mining elements and landscape

Natural Framework

Reclaimed landscape - start

Mixed forest - habitat woodland caribou

Wetland - habitat whooping crane

Grass and sedges- habitat wood buffalo

Esther Brun Oil Sand Discovery Centre - Suncore Tour - Mining Giants; educational fascilities already available = theory and proces 8.

55 KM 7.

48 KM

9.

55 KM

MINING GIANTS

6.

65 KM

10.

48 KM

5.

60 KM

4.

30 KM

3.

35 KM

11.

38 KM

13.

15 KM

2.

20 KM

12.

28 KM

Cultural frame: • education • experience • research • provide acces • no more secrets • love for the landscape

MIN(e)Dscape - ‘Drilling Tower’- look out- see the actual mining landscape transform

14.

20 KM

1.

15 KM

DISCOVERY CENTRE

N Location of ‘Drilling Towers’ within the Cultural frame

Cultural Framework; 25 m zone added to the basic framework MIN(e)Dscape - ‘Timeless Quarry’- landscape museum; experience the size and scale of the landscape in a setting of reclaimed landscape of the future

Plan mixed forest

grass

Impression of the ‘Timeless Quarry’ landscape museum

wet grass

wet forest

wetland

lake

Landscape Architecture

Location of the path; narrowest point of the museum park - 1.3km

Inspiration for museum path

Concept; large metal tube that transforms in relation to the landscpae, open/enclosed, raised or embedded in the landscape. A long ‘silver snake’ that takes you on a journey through the museum park, showing all the aspect of the reclamation landscape.

section and plan of ‘Timeline’ museum route

Impression of ‘Timeline’ museum route; tree top look-out

Model

Section

Impression of ‘Timeline’ museum route; mixed forest landscape

Model

Section

Impression of ‘Timeline’ museum route; grass and sedges landscape

Model

Section

Esther Brun

Impression of ‘Timeline’ museum route; start of the route with parking and info pannels

Impression of ‘Timeline’ museum route; wet grass landscape

Model

Section

Impression of ‘Timeline’ museum route; wet forest landscape

Model

Section

Impression of ‘Timeline’ museum route; wetland landscape

Model

Section

Impression of ‘Timeline’ museum route; lake landscape

Model

Section

Architect, Master of Science Urbanist, Master of Science Landscape Architect, Master of Science Architects, urbanists and landscape architects learn the profession at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture through an intensive combination of work and study. They work in small, partly interdisciplinary groups and are supervised by a select group of practising fellow professionals.

There is a wide range of options within the programme so that students can put together their own trajectory and specialisation.

With the inclusion of the course in Urbanism in 1957 and Landscape Architecture in 1972, the Academy is the only architecture school in the Netherlands to bring together the three spatial design disciplines under one roof.

Some 350 guest tutors are involved in teaching every year. Each of them is a practising designer or a specific expert in his or her particular subject. The three heads of department also have design practices of their own in addition to their work for the Academy. This structure yields an enormous dynamism and energy and ensures that the courses remain closely linked to the current state of the discipline.

The courses consist of projects, exercises and lectures. First-year and second-year students also engage in morphological studies. Students work on their own or in small groups. The design

projects form the backbone of the syllabus.

On the basis of a specific design assignment, students develop knowledge, insight and skills.

The exercises are focused on training in those skills that are essential for recognising and solving design problems, such as analytical techniques, knowledge of the repertoire, the use of materials, text analysis, and writing. Many of the exercises are linked to the design projects.

The morphological studies concentrate on the making of spatial objects, with the emphasis on creative process and implementation. Students experiment with materials and media forms and gain experience in converting an idea into a creation.

During the periods between the terms there are workshops, study trips in the Netherlands and abroad, and other activities. This is also the preferred moment for international exchange projects. The Academy regularly invites foreign students for the workshops and recruits wellknown designers from the Netherlands and further afield as tutors.

Graduates from the Academy of Architecture are entitled to the following titles: Architect, Master of Science; Urbanist, Master of Science and Landscape Architect, Master of Science.

Landscape Architecture

Amsterdam Academy of Architecture