The Mineral Network. From extraction to regeneration

Nome (NO) - Lauréat

DONNÉES DE L’ÉQUIPE

Associés: Giacomo Gallo (IT), Bregje Lidewij Walkate (NL), Maarten Johannes Filius (NL), Karlijn Simone Besse (NL) – architectes, Robert Thomas Younger (DE) – urbaniste, Remco Alexander van der Togt (NL) – architecte paysagiste, Tadej Gregorič (SI) – étudiant en urbanisme

giacomo@newenvironments.eu

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TEAM PORTRAIT

INTERVIEW
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1. How do you define the main issues of your project in relation with the theme “Re-sourcing”? Re-sourcing thanks to nature, to social dynamics, to new materiality? In which way do you think your project can contribute to an ecological and/or social evolution? And in which way do you think your project can be called a “regenerative project”?
Our western lifestyle is powered by extraction, influencing every aspect of our lives. It's time to make these processes transparent and architecturally central to society. Our project regenerates tangible elements (wetlands, habitats, amenities) and intangible values (identity, community) by retaining the value the mine creates within the region through reinvestment in education and economy.

2. How did the issues of your design and the questions raised by the site mutation meet?
The REE Deposit was found in a pristine ecosystem with a remaining industry in forestry and former iron extraction. All the ingredients were therefore present on site. To make the extraction process least invasive it needed to contribute to the ecosystem and continue the mining tradition in an experienceable way.

PROJECT:

Mining Halo. A Megadike containing toxic tailings, industrial park and experience center.

Ulefoss with regenerated harbour area and terraformed archipelago.

View from the experience centre into the mine & landfill

3. Have you treated these issues previously? What were the reference projects that inspired yours?
Yes, Our team was working in extraction sites in NL and the brown coal mines in DE. There was hardly any references as remediation is commonly done after an extraction rather than synchronized in parallel. The references in spirit nevertheless are the systemic thinking of HNS that let nature do the work in its time.

SITE:

Old miners house clad in red iron oxide color.

Nome team with the local government in Ulefoss shopping mall.

Ulefoss waterlock complex and industrial harbour.

4. How can your project be implemented together with the actors through a negotiated process and in time. How did you consider this issue in your project?
A Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is vital. Mining companies must engage with the public, and regenerative practices need implementing before extraction to be integral to operations. We are collaborating with local government to support negotiations and highlight synergies for the private sector. Since extraction profoundly impacts society and the environment, a broad stakeholder representation is essential.

REFERENCES:

Peat extraction through surface mining in Drenthe, NL

Iron Oxidation in inundated brown coal mine leads to acidic ph-value.

Brown coal extraction in Lusatia is scarring the landscape and impoverishing the soil

5. How did you form the team for the competition and if so what are the skills you associated?
Since ecological regeneration was at the core of our concept we needed someone to integrate the seemingly paradoxical. We added an industrial ecologist & architect to our more traditional planning disciplines.Together this led us to think in systems and streams rather than an assemblage of buildings. Additionally we decided to expand the scope and scale to the region to make systemic dynamics evident.

6. How could this prize help you in your professional career?
Absolutely. Extraction will be a huge topic within the energy transition to renewables. A regenerative approach will be of the essence to prevent a further deterioration of climate and ecosystems. This project puts us into the position to establish a case study and design a prototypical workflow around regenerative mining operations with decisionmakers, specialist and the local community.

TEAM IDENTITY
Legal status:
Team name:
Average age of the associates: 36,25 years old

Has your team, together or separately, already conceived or implemented some projects and/or won any competition? if so, which ones?
No.

WORKS: