St Flanans Colliery is a small site located outside of Glasgow, between Kirkintilloch and Twechar. The area has a very strong industrial past and the site itself is home to an abandoned, and now flooded, mine shaft. Ruins still remain onsite, including the old engine house. These buildings are no longer completely intact; however they are a prominent feature of the site. The site is positioned within the Central Scottish Green Network which is part of a national strategy to make Scotland more sustainable and economical.

 

St Flanan’s was a very difficult site, with many challenges to overcome to produce a successful design. The main issue with the site was the contamination due to coal mining. This affected the ecosystem on site, and so my design aimed to restore this. I created various habitats within the site to encourage different species into the area.

 

The site is currently very disconnected from its surroundings; it feels forgotten and lost in the landscape. The canal is hidden and very unused, yet offers an abundance of resources. My site visit revealed a very eerie and unique atmosphere which I felt was very important to maintain, as it gave the site such a rich and memorable character. Therefore it was important to introduce new purpose to the site, drawing new life to the area and providing the locals with something to use and take pride in.