Hailes Quarry Nature Park
a new type of zoo
a new type of zoo
Abstract
Hailes Quarry Nature Park is a confluence of urbanity andecology that will bridge the gap between ‘us’ and ‘them’. Based on the idea of reconciliationecology, which discusses the need for humans to coexist with nature in the samespace, this design concept is a catalyst for bringing that coexistence closerto reality.
The site is an abandoned quarry - made landfill – madewaterlogged lawn. It has the potential to be more than a set of footballpitches like many similar sites throughout the city.
The site’s prominent size and close proximity to threedifferent wildlife corridors give it enormous ecological opportunity. It couldplay an important role as a wildlife patch with connections to the largerwilderness including the outer foothills and the North Sea. As the site iswithin the urban boundaries of Edinburgh, it also has the potential foreducation, entertainment, recreation, food production, and tourism all drawnfrom the ecology of the site.
Through a long-term successional planting scheme, meadow,forest, and seasonal pond habitats are formed, providing an optimal range ofhabitats for many species native to the Edinburgh Area.
Over time the site is transformed into a haven for Scottishwildlife within the city. It becomes a new type of zoo, where people can comeand observe and interact with local wildlife in a natural habitat rather thanbehind the bars that we find so common.
The Edinburgh Context
In Scotland efforts are being made to reintroduce some of the natural environmentthat once existed in the country. The Edinburgh biodiversity action planidentifies species of both flora and fauna for protection and for efforts toincrease populations and is a cornerstone of this design.
The site is in a unique position inthat along its edges lay two key wildlife corridors, the Union Canal and arailway that runs between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Maybe more importantly, thesite is within close proximity to the Water of Leith, a major river corridorconnecting the foothills to the sea through the heart of the city.
Redefining the site as a mixture of woodland and grasslandgives it the greatest potential for the variety of species so important to thecity and allows it to interact best with the existing corridors.
The site’s significant urban location presents theopportunity for education, recreation with nature, and other activities. Themarriage of people and ecology on site is at the heart of this design proposal.
It is important that we be able to interact with nature, notsimply conserve and protect it. That is what Hailes Quarry Nature Park isabout.
Education Centre
The shell of a vacant Tesco warehouse will be transformedinto an environmental education centre. Here, children from the manysurrounding schools can come and learn about the historical and existingecology of their city, the importance of nature in our daily lives, and otherrelated topics. A function space will also be able to house a much-desiredsecond farmer’s market for the city.
Land Bridge
One of two existing bridges that cross the canal side willbe repurposed as a green bridge to facilitate wildlife crossing between thesite and the Water of Leith.
Canal Stage
The Union Canal is a continuous corridor for boats,bicycles, and pedestrians between Edinburgh and Glasgow. It therefore hastremendous potential as an attractor and is a key feature of the site. Theentrance from the Canal to the site will be opened up and an informal stagewill provide opportunity for community events. When not being used for suchevents, it’s ledges and ramps can act as an informal skatepark.
Community Centre
The community centre will be constructed to cater to everyday activities. As a flexible building, it can include a café, an organiccooking course, a library, a yoga studio, a karate centre, or any number ofother suitable activities.
West Entrance with Sculptural Bat Boxes
Form and function are combined to make a series ofsculptural bat boxes announcing the west entrance. Convection principles areemployed to create ideal summer and winter roosts for Scotland’s numerous batspecies, many of which are threatened.
Grand Meadow
The grand meadow occupies the centre of the site, bothmaximizing edge habitats and providing a prominent gathering area for users ofthe site. This is the flexible heart of the site. When mown it can act as aninformal sports area, kite flying space, picnic grounds, etc. It also providesnecessary habitat for many of the bird and insect species in Scotland. Thesetypes of habitat are important ecologically, but are also extremely flexibleand resilient when it comes to human use.
Seasonal Ponds
Seasonal ponds are ecologically significant features thatare often overlooked. They provide key breeding and spawning habitats for manyinvertebrate species that are drawn to them because of their inability tosupport predatory fish populations. The softly undulating topography of thesite combined with the heavy winter rains in Edinburgh creates perfectconditions for this type of habitat.
Bird Watch
A cantilevered platform, which extends towards the treetopsfrom the ridge along the edge of the site, will allow people to get closer toview and learn about the increased number of birds.
Foraging Beds
At the main entrance, these will be planted with specificnative and edible plant species. Information will be provided so that userswill be able to identify and use the plants throughout the more natural partsof the site.
Arboretum Entrance
The main entrance to the site includes an arboretumincluding each of the main tree species along with a sculptural wall featurewith corresponding information about the role of each species in its largercontext.
BMX Dirt Jumps
BMX culture in Edinburgh is very prominent and a wooded areais the perfect location for BMXdirt jumps, an often sought after bit of extreme sportinfrastructure.
Hailes Quarry Nature Park is a confluence of urbanity andecology that will bridge the gap between ‘us’ and ‘them’. Based on the idea of reconciliationecology, which discusses the need for humans to coexist with nature in the samespace, this design concept is a catalyst for bringing that coexistence closerto reality.
The site is an abandoned quarry - made landfill – madewaterlogged lawn. It has the potential to be more than a set of footballpitches like many similar sites throughout the city.
The site’s prominent size and close proximity to threedifferent wildlife corridors give it enormous ecological opportunity. It couldplay an important role as a wildlife patch with connections to the largerwilderness including the outer foothills and the North Sea. As the site iswithin the urban boundaries of Edinburgh, it also has the potential foreducation, entertainment, recreation, food production, and tourism all drawnfrom the ecology of the site.
Through a long-term successional planting scheme, meadow,forest, and seasonal pond habitats are formed, providing an optimal range ofhabitats for many species native to the Edinburgh Area.
Over time the site is transformed into a haven for Scottishwildlife within the city. It becomes a new type of zoo, where people can comeand observe and interact with local wildlife in a natural habitat rather thanbehind the bars that we find so common.
The Edinburgh Context
In Scotland efforts are being made to reintroduce some of the natural environmentthat once existed in the country. The Edinburgh biodiversity action planidentifies species of both flora and fauna for protection and for efforts toincrease populations and is a cornerstone of this design.
The site is in a unique position inthat along its edges lay two key wildlife corridors, the Union Canal and arailway that runs between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Maybe more importantly, thesite is within close proximity to the Water of Leith, a major river corridorconnecting the foothills to the sea through the heart of the city.
Redefining the site as a mixture of woodland and grasslandgives it the greatest potential for the variety of species so important to thecity and allows it to interact best with the existing corridors.
The site’s significant urban location presents theopportunity for education, recreation with nature, and other activities. Themarriage of people and ecology on site is at the heart of this design proposal.
It is important that we be able to interact with nature, notsimply conserve and protect it. That is what Hailes Quarry Nature Park isabout.
Education Centre
The shell of a vacant Tesco warehouse will be transformedinto an environmental education centre. Here, children from the manysurrounding schools can come and learn about the historical and existingecology of their city, the importance of nature in our daily lives, and otherrelated topics. A function space will also be able to house a much-desiredsecond farmer’s market for the city.
Land Bridge
One of two existing bridges that cross the canal side willbe repurposed as a green bridge to facilitate wildlife crossing between thesite and the Water of Leith.
Canal Stage
The Union Canal is a continuous corridor for boats,bicycles, and pedestrians between Edinburgh and Glasgow. It therefore hastremendous potential as an attractor and is a key feature of the site. Theentrance from the Canal to the site will be opened up and an informal stagewill provide opportunity for community events. When not being used for suchevents, it’s ledges and ramps can act as an informal skatepark.
Community Centre
The community centre will be constructed to cater to everyday activities. As a flexible building, it can include a café, an organiccooking course, a library, a yoga studio, a karate centre, or any number ofother suitable activities.
West Entrance with Sculptural Bat Boxes
Form and function are combined to make a series ofsculptural bat boxes announcing the west entrance. Convection principles areemployed to create ideal summer and winter roosts for Scotland’s numerous batspecies, many of which are threatened.
Grand Meadow
The grand meadow occupies the centre of the site, bothmaximizing edge habitats and providing a prominent gathering area for users ofthe site. This is the flexible heart of the site. When mown it can act as aninformal sports area, kite flying space, picnic grounds, etc. It also providesnecessary habitat for many of the bird and insect species in Scotland. Thesetypes of habitat are important ecologically, but are also extremely flexibleand resilient when it comes to human use.
Seasonal Ponds
Seasonal ponds are ecologically significant features thatare often overlooked. They provide key breeding and spawning habitats for manyinvertebrate species that are drawn to them because of their inability tosupport predatory fish populations. The softly undulating topography of thesite combined with the heavy winter rains in Edinburgh creates perfectconditions for this type of habitat.
Bird Watch
A cantilevered platform, which extends towards the treetopsfrom the ridge along the edge of the site, will allow people to get closer toview and learn about the increased number of birds.
Foraging Beds
At the main entrance, these will be planted with specificnative and edible plant species. Information will be provided so that userswill be able to identify and use the plants throughout the more natural partsof the site.
Arboretum Entrance
The main entrance to the site includes an arboretumincluding each of the main tree species along with a sculptural wall featurewith corresponding information about the role of each species in its largercontext.
BMX Dirt Jumps
BMX culture in Edinburgh is very prominent and a wooded areais the perfect location for BMXdirt jumps, an often sought after bit of extreme sportinfrastructure.
