Mine garden is located in the northwest corner of Shanghai Botanical Garden. It is connected with the whole botanical garden through green ring road and Chenshan River main road. Chenshan quarry is a relic of artificial mining. Since the 20th century, half of the hill on the south slope has been cut off. In order to protect the mining heritage, speed up the construction of ecological mine, and beautify the environment, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden was approved to be built into a delicate and characteristic restoration garden.
As an industrial activity with a long history, quarrying develops along with the long process of civilization, which has witnessed the interference, plunder, and destruction of nature by human activities. Quarrying industry is one of the most important types of ecological degradation research because of its stripping of surface vegetation and drastic change of topography, resulting in soil erosion, landscape destruction and habitat fragmentation. The total area of the mine garden is about 4.3ha, which is composed of four levels with different heights: mountain, platform, platform and deep pool. Among them, the surface of the mountain is relatively flat without layers and weathering is relatively serious, there is no obvious texture, convex-concave, no crack, and the facade has a straight open rectangular vent, which is obvious. There are 6 entrances and exits of the cavern at the position close to the rock wall; the platform part is the section left by quarrying, the terrain is relatively flat, and there are Metasequoia glyptostroboides growing well in the edge area; the area of the deep pool is about 1 ha, and the height difference between the platform layer and the pool is about 52m. The pond water is clear, and there are islands and vegetation formed naturally to bring a trace of vitality.
In such a project, designers face many challenges. The first challenge is to restore the severely degraded ecological environment. There are few vegetation, few species, weathered rocks and serious soil erosion. The second challenge is to fully exploit and effectively utilize the landscape value of the mine site. Therefore, how to re-establish the proper relationship between the mine and people has become a problem that designers need to think about.
At the same time, the designer chose the “addition and subtraction method” to deal with the special form of the quarry pit ecological restoration design principle: to adopt the “addition” strategy to build a new biological community by reshaping the terrain and increasing vegetation. For the exposed cliff, the designer did not take the conventional wrapping method, but respected the authenticity of the cliff landscape. For the sake of safety, the designer adopts the “subtraction” strategy without any intervention to make the cliff self repair under the natural conditions of rain and sunshine. For the retaining wall at the edge of the platform, the designer wrapped the retaining wall with the industrial mark of rusty steel plate to form a landscape interface with rhythm and rhythm of light and shadow.
Under the aesthetic enlightenment of Chinese landscape painting and classical literature, the project adopts modern design techniques to reinterpret the Oriental natural landscape culture and Chinese utopian thought. Different from the western “quiet view” appreciation method, the Oriental tradition emphasizes the “entering” type landscape experience which can be seen and toured. The designer set up a “Mirror Lake” at the platform, reflecting the beautiful curve of the mountain, which can be seen from all around, thus increasing the viewing range. In order to transform the slightly boring facade of the mountain, a water tower was built against the mountain, which effectively adjusted its rhythm, and spring water flowed from the mountain to increase the interest. Corresponding to the water tower, a flower stand is set at the top of the slope on the other side of the Jinghu Lake, so that you can see the changes of mountain scenery throughout the year in the water light of Jinghu Lake.
At the same time, on the east side of the mountain wall, a mountain waterfall is opened. The water flows down from the top of the mountain, bringing beautiful sound when it collides with rocks. Huying mountain waterfall, citing the artistic conception of ancient Chinese “Peach Blossom Land” (a typical seclusion thought, secluded from the secular world and hidden into the nature), set steel cylinders in sequence (use the dangerous potential of cliffs, imitate the blasting state of quarrying, and lead visitors into the plank road with the posture of dumping) — plank road (watch the stone texture left by quarrying while walking, and the sound of mountain waterfall is on the ear) — — Xianxiantian (opened from the winch ramp left over by quarrying) is a breathtaking tour route. It enters the cave through the winding pontoon (the platform in the middle can let visitors feel the beauty of mountains and rivers). Through the tunnel, you can come to the garden outside the world. This tour route is not only exciting but also quiet and pleasant.
On the basis of the strategy of ecological restoration and cultural reconstruction, the capacity of the site has been fully demonstrated through the link way as far as possible. A dangerous, inaccessible wasteland has been transformed into an attractive tourist attraction for people to get close to the natural landscape and experience the culture of quarrying industry.