Landscapes of Remembrance
Through researching the history of the site, I discovered that the area was famous for the Bradford Colliery and that there was a massive coal deposit close to the site. Additionally, there is a monument to commemorate the miners of the Bradford Colliery. This was the inspiration behind the proposal.
Celebrating the rich coal mining past of the Bradford area, the proposal aims to provide a space to commemorate this history. Alongside gallery and exhibitions, spaces for the research of the existing soil on site are part of the proposal helping understand the impact of mining on the surrounding natural environment.
Looking at geological strata of coal informed a concept for a journey through the space and looking at the site at more than surface level. The idea that a solid layer of coal would guide you through the spaces within the proposal allows to create a story through the spaces and reflects the rich past of the site. Through a scheme that sits within the landscape, the feeling of a being in a mine shaft can be mimiced. A trench system through the site to arrive at a central courtyard space reflects the network of mine shafts and cracks in the ground due to mining. A central gathering space leading into exhibition spaces and labs within the underground provides the feeling of being in a dark and gloomy mine shaft. This journey through the trenches reflects the route miners had to take when navigating through mine shafts underground.
The proposal becomes a space for both humans and non humans at different times of day to create an ecosystem where all species can co-exist in harmony.
