Valuing Extreme Alteration

Abstract

This thesis explores landscape architectural design approaches for the reclamation of mined landscapes in the Appalachian Coal Region, aiming to foster public appreciation and emotional connection. The study delves into the concepts of scale continuum and ecological grief, using a landscape-based narrative approach to reclamation for developing design principles that can transform post-industrial sites into spaces of cultural, ecological, and social significance.

Addressing ecological grief, characterized by emotional responses to environmental loss and degradation, the research advocates for strategies that emphasize accessibility, new appreciation, and adaptability. Ensuring open access to reclaimed landscapes fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility, while providing educational opportunities about the reclamation process enhances transparency. Promoting an open-minded approach, the design integrates artistic and cultural elements that highlight history and transformation, challenging traditional aesthetics and conflicting reclamation practices. The principle of open-ended design emphasizes flexibility, supporting the natural processes and ecological succession, allowing for continuous community engagement, both physically and mentally.

The final design, titled the ‘Appalachian Memorial of the Mined Landscape,’ reflects large-scale regional narratives trough site-specific design interventions, ensuring that reclamation efforts resonate across different spatial dimensions. This integrated approach applies the strategies of accessibility, new appreciation, and adaptability, allowing the grand themes and stories of the Appalachian region’s history and ecological context to be experienced in a detailed, intimate setting of individual sites, connected by intelligible routing.

Through these strategies, the research aims to create resilient landscapes that honor the region’s history and ecological context, offering new opportunities for public interaction and stewardship. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on landscape reclamation, providing actionable insights for practitioners and policymakers aiming to rehabilitate and reimagine mined environments.