Abstract:
This dissertation will focus on revitalizing and
adapting an abandoned mining Compound on
the outskirts of Cullinan. Through this journey of
uncovering and understanding this lost, abandoned
and deteriorating site, one starts to fall in love with
the beauty of these ruins within an unrestricted
landscape, where the natural has started infiltrating
into all areas of this site. It starts to evoke emotions
of a romantic lost time although this is not the case.
This environment has lost its identity of a harsh
working lifestyle where many of the workers died in
extremely uncomfortable and inhuman conditions.
Uncovering this intangible narrative of the past
has led to the idea of contrasting these two very
different conditions, the harsh past environment
with the vision of a new productive landscape
where there is an opportunity for healing.
Healing through exposing and appreciating
the past; healing the people of Cullinan by
providing new skill and opportunities during
this decommissioning transition and healing this
abandoned and neglected land.
