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Copperopolis industrial park and museum, Tawe Valley, Swansea, UK
Winner
Thomas Gibb, Welsh School of Architecture, University of Cardiff, UK
Material
TECU® Classic
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The work is based on “Kinetic Architecture,” which concentrates on including movable parts in the composition of buildings and other structures. This architectonic approach was further developed for the framework of the environment and wounded landscape of the Tawe Valley. Once the most important industrial metal extraction region in the world, today this valley near Swansea provides a catalytic blend of industrial tradition and degeneration – ideal conditions for developing novel architectural concepts. The concept was to design an “industrial park museum” incorporating the remnants of the demolished smelting furnaces and rolling mills. The two halls of the museum are to house exhibits highlighting the industrial heritage of the region, divided into the following subject areas: materials, extraction, transportation, refining and final processing. Upon leaving these halls, visitors move on to smaller exhibition pavilions devoted to the environment and the future. All the exhibits refer to the regional significance of copper and the former industrial facilities. There is a clear message to be found between the ruins of the copper industry and the contemporary renovations that employ a wide range of copper applications.
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