TRANSFORMING DISUSED QUARRIES/MINES INTO RESIDENTIAL AREAS
Otieno Kenedy
student
JNAFAU
Kenya
Architecture
Most quarries are usually located either in cities or in the suburbs and once exhausted, they are left as open pits which are an eyesore and are potential… more
Joseph El Rahi
advisor
USEK - Holy spirit University of Kaslik
Lebanese
DIM. Architects Co-Founder more
Dear Otieno,
Upon reviewing your presentation, I found the concept of transforming and repurposing quarries to be intriguing. However, I have reservations regarding the idea of constructing housing in quarries and mines. Here's why:
1. Quarries are typically situated outside urban areas, far from existing urban development. Consequently, I find it challenging to envision people willingly relocating to rural zones lacking urban infrastructure.
2. When considering landscape regeneration following the excavation process, I would expect the creation of parks, public spaces, or even innovative architectural integration. Therefore, constructing vertical housing structures seems disconnected from the goal of landscape rejuvenation.
3. Furthermore, the design itself appears rather generic, lacking specific features tailored to the site. Perhaps incorporating vertical green walls on the facades could enhance its appeal, but as it stands, the design appears somewhat modest to me.
In conclusion, while the project's intention is commendable, it seems to have deviated from its initial purpose of landscape regeneration and quarry reuse. In my opinion, these sites do not contribute positively to the housing crisis you mentioned earlier.
Finally, I commend you for the substantial effort you invested in this project and extend my best wishes for your future endeavors.
Sincerely,
Joseph El Rahi.
Dear Joseph El Rahi,
Thank you for taking the time to review my presentation and for sharing your valuable feedback. I genuinely appreciate your thoughtful comments and would like to address the concerns you raised regarding the construction of housing in quarries and mines. My project leans more on the hypothetical side rather than the practicality of use.
While I understand your reservations, I would like to emphasize that my project aimed to go beyond mere rehabilitation of the quarry. It also focused on the redevelopment of the site, taking into account its location in a residential neighborhood rather than outside of towns. This consideration was essential as it aimed to minimize the cost of construction materials and increase accessibility to urban infrastructure.
Regarding your first concern, I acknowledge that quarries are typically situated in rural areas away from existing urban development. In my case the site is not located away from the town rather in town. However, by repurposing these quarries into residential spaces, we can offer a unique solution to address the housing crisis, providing housing options closer to established urban areas. This approach can contribute to reducing the strain on existing infrastructure and minimizing commuting distances for residents.
While landscape regeneration is indeed a crucial aspect, i never intended to follow the norms and my design proposal sought to strike a balance between the rejuvenation of the quarry site and addressing the housing needs. The integration of parks, public spaces, and innovative architectural features was indeed part of the plan, but I also aimed to utilize the existing vertical space within the quarry to maximize housing opportunities. By incorporating vertical housing structures, we could optimize land usage while preserving and enhancing the natural landscape.
Regarding the design's generic appearance, I appreciate your feedback. In retrospect, incorporating vertical green walls on the facades could have enhanced the overall aesthetic appeal and further contributed to the project's ecological goals. I will take this suggestion into consideration for future iterations and development of the design.
In conclusion, I understand your perspective that the project may have deviated from its initial purpose of landscape regeneration and quarry reuse. However, I firmly believe that repurposing quarries into residential spaces can offer a practical and innovative approach to the housing crisis while ensuring sustainable development. By considering the location within a residential neighborhood, we can strike a balance between rejuvenating the landscape and providing much-needed housing options.
Once again, I sincerely appreciate your feedback and the time you dedicated to reviewing my project. Your insights will undoubtedly contribute to the further refinement and evolution of this concept. Thank you for your commendation and best wishes for my future endeavors.
Yours sincerely,
Otieno Kenedy
David Piska
Co-founder
+420 603 775 298
rdacoustic@rdacoustic.cz
+420 603 775 298
rdacoustic@rdacoustic.cz
Dear Otieno,
your minimalist visualization looks great. However, I would like to draw your attention to one invisible feature that is very important for home comfort.
It's the acoustics.
In every modern minimalist interior there are many reflective hard surfaces such as glass, concrete, washable floor and other. All hard surfaces reflect sound and that is the reason why any sound stay for long time in an interior. Echo (reverberation time, as I'm sure you've learned) is, simply - how long acoustic energy stays in an interior. Simply try it out by clapping your hands loudly in different spaces.
The echo makes the spoken word unintelligible, you tend to shout over yourself, raise your voice. The music is unlistenable, any noise from the outside is amplified.
My advice: The interior does not have to have the top acoustics of a recording studio, but the ratio of acoustically reflective and absorbing materials should be balanced. For example, our Silentmax acoustic panels are ecologically made from recycled PET, are non-flammable and fully certified for the EU. We can cut Silentmax, print it, cover it with a luxurious fabric such as, for example, brocade.
Get inspired
https://silentmax.eu/
https://rdacoustic.cz/en/blog/2023/04/29/luxury-brocade-combined-with-acoustic-solutions/
https://rdacoustic.cz/en/high-end-audio/silentmax3d-luxury-edition/
Looking forward to your feedback,
David
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