Landscape Reclaimation White Sands Ecoresort Kai Zhu - S1500048
Intex
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Site Analysis
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Design Proposal
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Design Statement
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The reclamation of post-mining landscapes is a very challenging task since there is no unique reclamation approach for such landscapes, being highly dependent on site-specific characteristics. Situated in East Lothian the project focuses on the reclamation of Whitesands Quarry, which is currently undergoing remediation from a quarry to a nature reserve. This project offers a significant opportunity to explore how multifaceted spatial components of social, ecological and technological potential can be interwoven within a new landscape strategy, set within a rich cultural landscape. The project asks for a comprehensive proposal for this site, while taking into account it’s integration with adjoining landscapes, including a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a geology trail and the John Muir coastal pathway, amongst a range of geological and historical features.
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The Capacity Beyond The Site
Throughout the first stage of the site analysis began to question the idea of capacity. What is the capacity of the site spatially? What is the human capacity of the site? This became particularly pertinent when the group looked at many of the case studies.
A series of panoramas were taken to depict what the site is like in selected photos. These were useful in showing the sense of place. The images are representing the most striking elements in the site.
light house
excavated earth from the quarry
cement work
cement work
After combining the original photographs with the on-site sketches, they show the most eye catching elements on the site in these particular moments. The sketches on top of the photo exaggerate these elements to show the impact that they have on the site visually. This also highlights the experience that visitors may have.
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SWOT Analysis
STRENGTH Scenic Views Open Area Wildlife Types Ecology Types Undiscovered (by people) Habitat Diversity Material Typologies Genius Loci
WEAKNESS Exposed Land Restricted Access Quarry Noise
OPPORTUNITY Large Scale Diverse Recreation Wide Context Access
After first site visit, SWOT analysis was used to highlight the initial thoughts of the group both positively and negatively. Some of the strengths that picked up on were the views, the diversity in habitats, and the genius loci. Very small list of weaknesses mainly focusing on the restrictions of access. The site had a variety of opportunities mainly concerning diversity and recreation. The main threats that came across were ecological, for example, the natural succession.
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THREATS Pollution Water Pumps Plant Succession Erosion Weathering
Later, the swot analysis led to the form of series questions regarding the possibilities and issues for the site. Are there any other regional or national sites that we can create a connection to? Is the site accessible for different users? What local materials can be accessed? How can we improve and strengthen the connection between the town of Dunbar and Whitesands? What is the Capacity of the site?
Meterology Wind Rose (from January to December)
Wind Rose (Annual)
Sunpath summer path
equinox path
winter path
Temperature and Rainfall
The exposure on the site plays a large part in the experience especially on a particularly bleak day hence led the group to research into the meteorology. The group looked at how the sun would affect the visit to the site particularly in association with the views as it is always situated in the south and sets very low in the winter creating glare in certain areas. Then the group looked into the wind conditions which have a large impact as it is so exposed. The wind runs predominantly from the south west with some wind from the north east/ east. These diagrams have shown the average wind speed and direction in the different months of the year. The temperature and rainfall averages for the area was also taken in to the consideration of the meterological analysis.
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Geological History Dunbar [variously given as ‘fort on the point’/castle (‘dun’) on the top (‘barr’)/ fort on the height, top or extremity/ fortress (‘bar’) on a hill (‘dun’)]
Geology Profile
Dunbar lies about 5km west-north-west of Barns Ness (Barness on older maps). Thomas Carlyle described Dunbar as ‘high and windy, looking down over its herring boats, over its grim old Castle now much honeycombed…’ while Ian Finlay called it ‘lean and weather-beaten’.
Flooding Indicator
Kilns
Soil Strength
Soil Texture
Surface Permeability
Soil Profile Top Soil Alluvial Dirft (18m)
Shale (18m) Upper Limestone (5m) Sandtone (10m) Lower Limestone(7m) 8
Basemap
Wave-cut Platform
Ecological Habitat
Tyninghame shore which is part of the John Muir Country Park. This is viewed as one of the Lothians most under watched areas with few birders. The bay is filled with geese and swans using it as a roost site and they can also be found around the river mouth.
After the talk from RSPB, nature reserves and possible precedents were found for the ecological part of our design. The focus was on focus was on Scotland as this is the most relatable to White Sands Quarry. On this map a large number of wildlife reserves across Scotland were highlighted and a few of them were selected and marked in green colour. There are four ecological nature reserves in close proximity to Dunbar.
Musselburgh Lagoons were used for the dumping of fly- ash from nearby Power Station. As a result of this, large numbers of waders, gulls and duck now use these lagoons as a high tide roost site. Aberlady Bay has over 250 species, branding it one of Britain’s finest birding sites. Its habitats consist of extensive mudflats of the estuary, and adjoining saltmarsh, freshwater marshes, dunes, woodland and marine. Wading birds such as sandpipers are most common here with terns also roosting on the beach at high tide. Thousands of geese use the bay to roost in the winter.
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Circulation
The chosen case studis connects to the serial vision representation of the John Muir walkway. Each image has been recorded in a specific position to allow the viewer to notice the particular features of each point. The group punctured the walkway with moments just as the red bridges puncture the meandering path in this case study. The Red Bridges project is also a very bold intervention however this design explores spatial qualities in a way that is very unusual and interesting to all users. The functionality of both this garden design and the Red Ribbon design, is to take people on a journey and the group believes The John Muir Walkway shares the same feature. The current walkway has a high capacity for re-design as it is an important feature for the access to the Whitesands Site. By looking at case studies that share the theme of journey through bold intervention, this allows us to explore the possibilities for this pathway.
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These case studies have also encouraged us to think about the configuration of the landscape; how important it is and how it is perceived by all users.
Navigation
Red Ribbon - Qinhuangdao, China (Turenscape)
The site is a linear river corridor, with a total area of about 20 hectares. The ribbon structure is made of fibre steel that is painted red and stretches along the riverbank for just over 500 meters. A wooden boardwalk follows alongside the structure taking visitors on a tour around the riverside gardens. Lighting, seating and planting have all been incorporated into this structural design and this has led to it being a very functional yet artistic intervention. This case study was particularly useful to us as it highlights how important circulation and navigation are for creating a unique visitor experience.
Garden Of 10,000 Bridges - Xi’an, China (West 8)
This project was designed as part of the International Horticultural Exposition in 2011. The Garden plays with the sensation of surprise, using both a distinct sense of enclosure and vantage points. The garden runs like a labyrinth, meandering in and out of tall vegetation that is broken up by footbridges that emerge out of the tall grass to present views of the surrounding area. The garden was designed as a metaphor for life with the meandering path being the timeline of life and representing the uncertainty we all feel when we are in an enclosed situation. The bridges then highlight the many moments in life in which we feel elation and freedom.
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Capacity Case Study: Magheramorne Reinvented Proposal
153 hectares
Currently the plan is to develop the magheramorne works to become an exemplar of eco friendly living. They have plans to create a harbor village in the are, which contains the old works that will be at the forefront of ‘green’ living. They also wish to create an adventure sports area in the quarry for mountain biking and diving with a working heritage railway and railway museum. They wish to creat anindustrial archaeology park. There are a variety of uses for the proposed peninsula design such as ecological areas, film studios, events areas and a family cycling circuit.
Site Condition
Post-industrial Buildings
Peninsula Environmental Features
A 200 Year Quarry : 120 Meters Deep
Economy
At the moment the government have designated the works as having a degraded landscape. But the layout of the area has so much potential in the eyes of Lafarge and the RSPB They are struggling to have the proposal applications. The projects and building would bring a lot of benefit to the surrounding area of Larne.
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Tourism Ecology
Dunbar Capacity
Makeup of Dunbar Economy Historical Harbour In general, arable farmland is much more intensively used, but is of lesser extent than it once was and the quantity of livestock has greatly declined.
Recreation
Dunbar Golf Club
Rubble has been deposited at places on the coast to protect fairways and greens from erosion.
Agriculture remains important, but fishing has declined due to overfishing and potential global warming. Its main manufactures is cement at Lafarge Cement Oxwell Mains (the only integrated cement plant in Scotland). Another large local employer is Torness Nuclear Power Station. A large portion of the workforce now commute to Edinburgh or further field.
Dunbar City Coastal Habitat
Recreation Woodland Habitat
120 hectares
Historical Feature Landmark
Grassland Habitat Whitesands Quarry
Fishing
Cementwork
Agriculture Land Landfill
Agriculture
Tourism 13
What is the Capacity ?
This series of questions that the group originally produced regarding the possibilities and issues for the site led the group to form this series of analysis and our findings were that the site has a particularly large spatial capacity allowing for a great deal of new design to take place. Through analysis of our chosen case studies, we all feel that our future strategies for redesigning are not necessarily based around restoration, but more about creating a new meaning and new purpose for this site. The main question that stood out to the group wass “What is the Capacity of the site?� This can be in terms of sustainability or the design opportunities that the site allows. But over all it is about combining the two elements of ecology and society together to form a new successful, sustainable design.
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White Sands _______
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Eco-resort: Education Sustainablity isolated information board resting bird
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The dispersed relationship between human activity and animal behavior has been the major issue for the site. The educational infrastructure on site (e.g.: information board) was not responding adequately and sensitively to the environment and its habitant since the human presence would create disturbance as they entered the field. Therefore new infrastucture and means of educational and recreational strategy is needed.
Structure as Threshold In order to relink and rebuild the relationship between human and nature (landscape and willdlife), structure can be create to function as the prominant threshold to juxtapose these two distinctive parties. The structure would be functioned not only as a habitat for the wildlife, but also functioned as a dwelling for people.
animal
human
architecture infrastructure habitat niche ...
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Tangling Akihisa Hirata
birds vs. human relationship
Inspired by the Japanese architect Akihisa Hirata, the theory of “tangling�, an organic evolvement of the natural process can be adapted into the human settlement and spatial movement. Tangling has hierachical structure in all elements, from a micro scale like proteins to a macro scale like jungle. Living world is a fabric of tangling orders. From seaweed within the stone and stone within the preexisted man-made infrastructure, the theory of this process can be adapted into the project to create intriguing balance between human and nature. The tangling symbolizes the harmonious balance of eastern philosophy as well as the idea of mutualism in ecological relationship.
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Ecoresort - Tangling Relationship
To identify the main factors and their interaction within the tangling process, initial diagram has demonstrated many of the key elements and their niche within this complex. Resort dwelling and bird habitat were both considered the main the penetration point in this relation.
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Interaction Stretagies
The main strategy was to break the confined boundaries between people and nature while encourage a more active and blurred boundries between the two that allow a dynamic movement and interaction. Through this process, both parties can coexist harmoniously instead of intrusion on each other.
conventional method
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blurring the boundries based on ecological principles
Design Guideline
In order to create successful environment for both users, the resort design has to consider the relationship between not only human and nature but also the public and the private. The landscape was not only functioned as a recreational space but also should functioned as a productive landscape to enhance the economical and social engagment within the bigger context.
landscape aesthetic
View points would the essential aspect of the resort design since the site has its unique landscape feature and topography. Standing points would the the key elements when considering the plancement of the dwelling units and building structure.
habitat enhancement
The quality of the habitat and landscape feature would be created through the consideration of basic ecologcial principles. Monoculture would be broke up and formulize more diverse and sensitive habitat.
interactive & responsive
agrotourism
The idea of natural farming and productive landscape would be introduced as a long term strategy for the resort to enhance the economical but also social sustatinablity of the site. This would also create a diverse types of landscape feature for the land to furthur improve the unique quality of the landd.
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View Points After topography analysis and landscape feature from photography taken during site visits, hight points of the site can be allocated while key scenic spots in the wider landscape can be identified. This helped to determine the entrance point on the southwest so that visitors can be drawn to the whole landscape immidiately. The second high point on the north would be considered as another destination point for visitors on the site to observe from another perspective.
20 m elevation
35 m elevation
90 m - immediate view 200 m - minor disturbance for birds 400 m - no disturbance for birds 22
Design Iteration By following landscape ecological principles and discussing ideas with ecologists, curvilinear boundaries were created and convoluted shapes of patches were made to increase biodiversity as well as species movement. In this manner, built structure can be introduced to minimize the environmental impact of the site.
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Delineation In order to create delineate spaces for diffferent users, large part of the land on site along the south and southeast side of the site would be devoted for exclusive use. This is not only to separate the dwellers with the public for privacy and recreation but also to limit the access and disturbance to the habitat. The main public access would be located along the margin of the land on the north to reduce the environmental impact while provides mobile accessibility for the entire resort.
main access private sector (dwellers only) 24
main public sector
Shallow Water Habitat Inland freshwater lake is considered as the main landscape feature of the resort since large amount of wader species are inhabiting on site. In order to increase the inhabitability of land, shallow water habitat would be shaped to respond to the fluctuation of water level between two meters to three meters above sea level. Therefore, series of large pockets of marshland are created to form a unified and convoluted patches allow waders and other wildlifes to travel among these habitats.
2 meter interval original water level (3 m above sea level) fluctuating marshland (between 2 m ~ 3 m above sea level) 25
Seasonal Changes Through seasonal changes, water level would rise to flood parts of the landscape to create predicted area of marshland that limits the human uses while encourage birds movement during certain time during the year.
Les Echasses - Golf & Surf Eco Lodge The prototype of the resort lodges comes from the case study that demostrate the ability to adapt landscape and use landscape and landform as a technique to screen views and delieate space for its functionality (e.g.: privacy, etc.)
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Planting Matrix Vegetative edges with a high structural diversity, vertically or horizontally, are richer in edge animal species and also act as filter to dampen influences of surrouding on the patch interior. Therefore, the species on the edge of the site would function as a wind break and screening devices while the inter clumps of fruit grove would be functioned as a productive and scenic element.
natural farming / edible landscape cluster of scatered fruit tree dense planting for wind break and property boundary boarder planting for screening and fensing
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Master Plan
Art Studio
Dense Vegetation
Welcome Centre and Cheaper Inn
Boarder Hedges
Lodges
Fruit Cluster
Observation Tower
Natural Farmland
100 m
Marshland Habitat 29
Scattered Fruit Tree Planting Prototype
The first stage of the plan would mainly contribute to the landform construction. Grassland with very few scrubs would occur through natural succession during this peirod.
0~2 year 30
4~6 year
The growth of the initially-planted fruit trees provide a visual buffer for guests, exposing them to a “living and productive landscape.“
10~15 year
20~40 year 31
Ecological Zoning The lodges are surrounded by these different types of habitat, which are created to enhance the landscape aesthetics and ecologcial diversity.
tree buffer
farmland + scattered orchard low land lodges
grassland habitat 32
vertical stepping stones
marshland
upper land lodges
low land lodges
large water body - lake
cement work
shallow water habitat
woodland habitat 33
Design Statement The main concept of the design for White Sands Quarry is to create a eco-resort that not only functioned as a recreational retreat but also provides unique landscape habitat for wildlife and its biodiversity in a sensitive apporach. Inspired by the idea of “tangling� structure from hierarchical nature, resort lodges are acting as a threshold to jaxtapose human and nature with a ecological sensibility. Mutualism system is adapted into the design to create a harmonius balance between the two distinctive users. The relationship between public and private was also a essential consideration when it comes to the overall planning strategy for the resort. The area with most distinctive landscape feature on the site would be preserved and limited exclusively for the dwellers living in the lodges.With the off-grid system, the lodges would functioned independently to minimize the environmental impact to the land and use of scattered fruit trees would act as both source of food and screen for privacy. By reshaping the land, the landscape would appear differently throughout the journey of the site. The dramatic landform would also act as a basemap for future natural succession which will facilitate great potential in biodiversity and species movement. In addition, the edge of the lake would fluctuated extensively according to seasonal changes. The rise and fall of the water level would create much more drastic change for the appearance of the land and create more intriguing habitat for waders and other birds. With the aboudant source of food and diverse habitat patches, the wildlife of the White Sands Eco-resort will thrive with gradual metamophosis. All in all, the design challenges the definition of eco-tourism by introducing ecologcial practice and agrotourism to this post-mining landscape to bring social, environmental and economical aspects all together into one complex to foster a experience that is unique to not only the place but also the identity of eco-resort today.
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