ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo

Editor's letter

What lies beneath

Around the world, obsolete quarries are being transformed from dangerous eyesores to inspiring destinations –providing new ideas for transforming particularly challenging brownfield sites


In this issue, we interview Martin Jochman, the architect behind the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland – a luxury hotel located almost 90m below ground in an abandoned quarry just outside Shanghai.

When Jochman (then working for Atkins) won the commission to design a new hotel as part of a large commercial and residential scheme with the old quarry at its heart, he was given a height limit of just 25 metres – the developers Shimao were determined to minimise the impact of the building on the surrounding landscape.

Jochman suggested something a little radical – why not build the hotel into the quarry itself?

It wasn’t an easy solution – the project team were faced with challenges including the difficulties of transporting building materials down into the quarry, the risk of flooding and rockfall and the need to ensure it was earthquake resistant. The results are pretty impressive though – an 18-storey hotel with16 storeys underground (two storeys of which are underwater, with some guests suites looking out onto an aquarium), built with passive sustainability at its heart.

“There was no precedent to this building,” says Jochman. “It’s become a symbolic idea of what can be done.”

Once depleted of their resources, quarries are often left abandoned where they might fill with rainwater or be used as landfills; they can become dangerous, polluted eyesores.

Although it’s not something we’ve covered extensively in CLADmag, there are a range of interesting quarry projects taking shape across the world.

In Atlanta, Bellwood Quarry – an obsolete 100-year-old granite quarry – has been an eyesore for residents for a long time, but thanks to a huge investment it’s in the process of being turned into a destination greenspace. Miron Quarry in Montreal – formerly a limestone quarry and then one of Canada’s largest landfill sites – is currently being turned into “something like New York’s Central Park,” according to Laure Waridel of environmental NGO Équiterre (speaking to Montreal CTV news). A hugely ambitious environmental rehabilitation project, Parc Frédéric-Back has already opened on the 153-hectare site on top of the old city dump, with work ongoing to continue to transform it into a major outdoor attraction with sports and cultural facilities, bike paths and a circus centre. Elsewhere, quarries are being turned into wildlife habitats, parks, mixed-use housing districts, water management systems and more, while Martin Jochman is investigating the feasibility of further quarry reuse projects.

Abandoned quarries can be a depressing blight for communities. These projects provide new ideas for transforming challenging sites and will hopefully result in facilities which benefit communities and lessen the environmental impact of quarrying.

company profile
Company profile: Barr + Wray Ltd
Founded in 1959, Barr + Wray is recognised as a world-leading provider of spa design, engineering and pool & spa equipment.
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
features
Interior and exterior boundaries blur in Wadi Rum
Chad Oppenheim
"You can’t insert the operational aspects as an afterthought, the whole project is a balance of performance and poetry"

From a youth centre for Pharrell Williams to a Six Senses resort, Miami architect Chad Oppenheim’s aim is to find the balance between fantasy and functionality

RCR recently unveiled the steel-clad Soulages Museum in Rodez, in France
"Winning the Pritzker is a great joy and a great responsibility"

On winning the Pritzker Prize

Some 1,100 trees of 
23 different species will line the building façades
Stefano Boeri is working on a number of major green schemes in China
"We’re creating new spheres, where people, trees and animals can coexist in an environment of wellness"

On how the vertical forest model promotes wellness

Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
features
The acrylic pool will link the two 10-storey buildings
The project is the brainchild of Ballymore CEO Sean Mulryan
"It will feel like floating through the air while you’re swimming "

On his plans for the London 'sky pool'

Children are raised in the outdoors, enjoying acres of woodland, trails and countryside
"Residents share stories with me of how Serenbe has changed their lives for the better and they are healthier and happier - Steve Nygren"

The original wellness community at Serenbe is expanding, with a new hamlet dedicated to health. Jane Kitchen paid a visit

The colour palette and materials are inspired by nature
Joyce Wang’s Hong Kong and London practice has worked extensively with Mandarin Oriental
"Our brief was to create an exclusive suite dedicated to extravagant entertaining"

Designs the 'ultimate retreat for socialising'

features
Prince-Ramus was the founding partner of OMA New York, before rebranding the firm as REX in 2006
"If there are many possible solutions, we choose the one that is most beautiful"

Rem Koolhaas’ protege on the challenges of designing a truly flexible arts centre for Ground Zero

BIG’s design for Google’s Charleston East Campus aims to foster a sense of community
Daniel Sundlin
"What defines BIG’s style of visual communication is that our diagrams clearly capture the essence of our projects, meaning that it’s very easy for people who don’t know our projects well to understand them."

The vision for Google's UK and US HQs

Populous were responsible for the design of the Nanjing Sports Park
Andrew James heads a new partnership between Populous and Alisports, the sports arm of Alibaba
"Alibaba has set its sights on operating 50,000 sports venues in China over the next 10 years to build a connection with its 470 million subscribers"

The Populous director explains a major deal which will transform China’s sporting infrastructure

cladkit product news
Jaffe Holden helps bring Academy Museum of Motion Pictures alive
Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics for the Academy Museum
Magali Robathan
Acoustical consulting firm Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics and audio/video design services for the recently opened Academy Museum of Motion ...
Koto Design introduces wood-fired hot tub
Koto is known for crafting modular, energy-neutral cabins and homes
Katie Barnes
A striking wood-fired hot tub has been unveiled by Koto, an architecture and design studio which has a passion for ...
Alberto Apostoli designs tech-forward Wellness Therapy furniture collection for Varaschin
The furniture collection draws on absolute geometries, pure lines, neutral colours and strong references to nature
Megan Whitby
Furniture manufacturer Varaschin has unveiled the new Wellness Therapy range, designed by Italian spa and wellness architect and designer Alberto ...
cladkit product news
Alberto Apostoli and Newform collaborate to launch the A.Zeta showerhead
The showerhead offers two modes; rainfall or waterfall
Megan Whitby
Italian architect Alberto Apostoli has renewed his partnership with Newform – an Italian wellness company – and designed A.Zeta. A.Zeta ...
Codelocks develops new glass door smart lock
The new lock model allows facilities and building managers to create and manage access via an app or online portal
Megan Whitby
Codelocks has launched its first glass door smart lock to bring intelligent access control to modern spa, leisure, fitness and ...
Eden project uses drones to spell out climate change warning
Magali Robathan
Almost 300 drones were used to signal an environmental message above the Eden Project’s biomes, during the UN Climate Change ...
cladkit product news
Siminetti unveils iridescent decorative panelling range inspired by plants
The Clematis design
Megan Whitby
The Botanicals is Siminetti’s newest Mother of Pearl decorative panelling collection, inspired by the distinctive patterns found in botany and ...
Mather & Co and ITV unite to create Coronation Street Experience
Mather & Co has transformed the visitor centre into the ultimate haven for ardent Coronation Street viewers
Magali Robathan
Experience designers, Mather & Co, have orchestrated a remarkable collaboration with ITV to unveil the new Coronation Street Experience, a ...
Eco Resort Network conference to convene in Mauritius this May
The event will be hosted in the Mauritius in 2024
Megan Whitby
Hospitality industry event Eco Resort Network is set to take place at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Turtle Bay, Mauritius, from ...
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo