Jack Edgar

This thesis examines the transformation of post-extraction landscapes within the Witwatersrand Mining Belt, exploring how architecture can contribute to ecological and social restoration. Focusing on the design of an Ecology Conservation Centre, the project aims to rehabilitate a damaged quarry by blending built structures with natural elements, reflecting both the site’s industrial past and its ecological potential. Using reclaimed clay from the Rietfontein Brickworks and situated in a rewilded quarry, the design encourages nature to reclaim and flourish within the architecture.

By reimagining quarries and mine tailings, often dismissed as wastelands, the thesis proposes their potential as ecological restoration hubs and public spaces. Drawing on concepts of rewilding and ruin, it envisions these landscapes as green corridors, promoting recreation, research, and learning. The project acknowledges the industrial heritage of the Witwatersrand while advocating for a future where built intervention supports environmental and social regeneration