ADS2: National Park

Claire Devanney

Claire completed her BArch at the University of Nottingham where during her second year she was part of the Project Tshela team that designed and built a nursery in the remote and underdeveloped village of Mokomotsie in South Africa. The building was designed by herself and four other students as the winning competition entry. In March 2019 Claire took part in the Silver Building Exhibition ‘The Greater Transformation of London’ as part of ADS11 where she investigated 'Architecture Under Threat'. Claire is especially interested in the social value that Architecture can bring to current situations.

Contact

ku.oc.oohay@yennavederialc

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Degree Details

School of Architecture

ADS2: National Park

Made by Giants

Whilst our protected landscapes and National Parks are to a large extent made by human effort, we like to think of their creation through myths. The project explores the collision between human industry and how mythologies are constructed. Often, it is ambiguities between natural and man-made structures that cause mythologies to be created within National Parks. People believe that the only possible way that the structures could be formed is through a supernatural construction. The Giant’s Causeway visitor centre actively encourages people to believe that the geological structures were made by giants.

In the North York Moors, mythology coexists alongside industry and many geological and man-made structures are said to have been made by giants. The most recent industry to impact the landscape is Potash, which will be mined for 100 years. Potash is a rich red colour and most commonly used as a fertiliser. Due to the National Park condition, a 37.5km tunnel around 250m below the surface is to be built in order to transport the Potash out of the National Park for processing without impacting the landscape above. The mine will break ground at three points where the shaft heads will be 45m high.

In this context, my project adds social value at the three points where the mine shafts break ground, at Lady Cross, Lockwood Beck and Tocketts Lythe. Considering the industrial and mythical potential whilst the mine is in use for 100 years and also after. The project explores the tunnel as a Ley line dotted with monuments and natural forms, where the giants have displaced the land. Man-made shafts with a geological weight and visible layers of strata pierce through the landscape at three points along the tunnel and create opportunities for future mythologies. Personal conversations with my Granda about his experiences of mining the tunnels in Fife for the hydroelectric power station inform the canteen, pub, locker room and bedroom spaces within these shafts. The materiality and vibrant red colour of Potash is experienced throughout the shafts and signifies the intensity of mining. Underground spaces offer an opportunity for local people to experience the land below ground. Light wells draw shafts of light through the buildings. It is believed that these three structures in the North York Moors were made by giants.

A large source of Potash has been discovered beneath the North York Moors.

The Potash Tunnel — The Potash Tunnel is 37.5km long and is used to transport the Potash out of the National Park for processing. At three points the mine shafts break ground, at Lady Cross, Lockwood Beck and Tocketts Lythe.

Potash — Explorations with vibrant red potash, using it as a lime wash and render. Potash can be used as an admixture within concrete in order to increase its tensile strength.

The Three Shafts — Layers of strata on the way down to the tunnel displays the intensity of scale. Where the shaft breaks ground the circulation wraps around the shaft, following the movement of the working mine.

Lady Cross — The shaft structures have a geological weight and visible layers of pink strata formed from different ratios of Potash admixture used within the concrete. Each of the shaft structures contain a pub, a canteen, a locker room and bedrooms. At Lady Cross, the giant shaft structure references a motte and bailey castle with the hill behind and the caravan village in front. Man-made mounds are formed from the displacement of the land that results from digging the shaft. The furniture inside is in organic shapes which creates different territories within.

Lockwood Beck — The long vertical elements in the form references the geology of the Giant’s Causeway and creates a geological weight. It appears that the giant has ripped the waterfront pub from the overall structure and through it on to the waters edge. Organic forms of light wells sit above the underground pub area, allowing shafts of light in to the space and leading people above the ground across.

Tocketts Lythe — The ground floor is exposed and is a sheltered space used for the weekly farmer’s market.

The Potash Pub — This is where the local people come to experience the nature of what is happening below the ground. Light wells allow shafts of light to enter from above.

The Potash Canteen — This is the space where miners and local people meet for meals. Red potash render is found in the shaft and light wells. There is an experience of the powerful nature of mining when plunging in to the glowing red spaces of the shaft.

The Potash Locker Room — Long vertical light wells draw the light through the space.

The Potash Bedroom — This is an intimate space for contemplation. Left open for the weary traveller.

Granda — A still of my Granda from the documentary “Donegal’s Tunnel Tigers”. He is mining the tunnels in Fife for the hydroelectric power station in the 1950’s.

geology Giant Industry Landscape Ley line Mining mythology National Park red Strata supernatural

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