Vista developed a master plan and detailed construction drawings for the former coal mine ‘Grube Reden’. The site will attract diverse cultural and economic activities in an ambience inspired by the architecture of the mining landscape.
The contaminated ground of the site was one the key issue to be solved. In the master plan, specific landforms, structures and sub-surface conditions are used as a starting point for a broad range of new functions.
The following transformations are distinguished:
The former industrial site is transformed into an urban campus with offices and cultural functions, organized around a central road and three squares; the central square is bounded by distinct old mine buildings, that are given new functions. The contaminated surface between the squares and infrastructure is covered by typical mine-rock-material which restricts direct contact between people and the subsurface. The result is an arid garden landscape, were endangered insects and amphibians can flourish. A central water channel connects the dry rock garden of the pit heap with the green water gardens on the lowest part of the site. A nine-meter-high gabion wall forms the transition between the water garden and the urban campus.
The water garden is build on top of the former rail yard of the miningsite. By sealing the subsurface with clay, a perfect condition was created tocollect all the water from the 125 ha site and turn it into a front garden for the new campus. The garden forms a mosaic of wet biotopes defined by water depth and substrates. In the center of the garden a long buffer basin andTaxodium forest was created to store water from the site when heavy rainfall occurs.
A special element is the garden is the geothermal canyon. Salty mine water, pumped from a depth of 800 meters and with a temperature of 30°C is used as a source to heat the buildings on the campus. For this reason a geothermal plant was build. After heating the buildings the water is further cooled down in the canyon before running through the water garden and into a nearby natural creek.
The old slip basin was historically used to let sediment subside from the washing water of the coal mine. In the new plan it is partially transformed into a new lake that functions as a water reservoir for the water garden, and partially into a soil depot that will become a biomass production area. The bio fuel that comes from this site is used to further heat the buildings on the site during harsh winters. The goal is to reduce the carbon footprint of the site as much as possible.
The 80 meter high pit heap in the south of the campus had dangerously steep slopes. By making a horizontal cut in the terrain the hill was stabilised. This incision is used to build a path around the hill. By continuing the track around the lake, a divers and exiting 4 kilometer skate track is created. The circuit is in great contrast with the hilly landscape around it and is unique in the region.
The contaminated ground of the site was one the key issue to be solved. In the master plan, specific landforms, structures and sub-surface conditions are used as a starting point for a broad range of new functions.
The following transformations are distinguished:
The former industrial site is transformed into an urban campus with offices and cultural functions, organized around a central road and three squares; the central square is bounded by distinct old mine buildings, that are given new functions. The contaminated surface between the squares and infrastructure is covered by typical mine-rock-material which restricts direct contact between people and the subsurface. The result is an arid garden landscape, were endangered insects and amphibians can flourish. A central water channel connects the dry rock garden of the pit heap with the green water gardens on the lowest part of the site. A nine-meter-high gabion wall forms the transition between the water garden and the urban campus.
The water garden is build on top of the former rail yard of the miningsite. By sealing the subsurface with clay, a perfect condition was created tocollect all the water from the 125 ha site and turn it into a front garden for the new campus. The garden forms a mosaic of wet biotopes defined by water depth and substrates. In the center of the garden a long buffer basin andTaxodium forest was created to store water from the site when heavy rainfall occurs.
A special element is the garden is the geothermal canyon. Salty mine water, pumped from a depth of 800 meters and with a temperature of 30°C is used as a source to heat the buildings on the campus. For this reason a geothermal plant was build. After heating the buildings the water is further cooled down in the canyon before running through the water garden and into a nearby natural creek.
The old slip basin was historically used to let sediment subside from the washing water of the coal mine. In the new plan it is partially transformed into a new lake that functions as a water reservoir for the water garden, and partially into a soil depot that will become a biomass production area. The bio fuel that comes from this site is used to further heat the buildings on the site during harsh winters. The goal is to reduce the carbon footprint of the site as much as possible.
The 80 meter high pit heap in the south of the campus had dangerously steep slopes. By making a horizontal cut in the terrain the hill was stabilised. This incision is used to build a path around the hill. By continuing the track around the lake, a divers and exiting 4 kilometer skate track is created. The circuit is in great contrast with the hilly landscape around it and is unique in the region.
