Echo Tang

The Anthropocene is a recent and widely mentioned term. It refers to the fact that human activities had such an impact on the earth that it can be named a new geological epoch. Although Iceland may look like a pristine wilderness, it is equally challenged by the Anthropocene.

Iceland was the last large, inhabited island in the world, human influence started much later. After arriving in Iceland, human beings cut down forests to build houses and developed quarrying, digging, mining industries, hydropower, and thermal power generation affecting the appearance of Iceland to a certain extent. To survive, humans have been changing the landscape positively in a way that benefits them. Industrialization at the expense of nature has always been controversial in Iceland. Because all human-induced industries are unsustainable and will become post-industrial areas in the near future, perhaps it is time to give back nature's right to dominate the landscape.

For this project, I have chosen the last whaling station of Iceland located in Hvalfjörður as my site, which included the last whaling station and its associated facilities, as well as abandoned quarries left over from quarrying activities. It seems that mankind, like incompetent sculptors, has carved out ways, dug out quarries, added harbors to change the original coastline, and built oil tanks and warehouses for storage, changing the Icelandic landscape at will. The quarries have long since been abandoned as scars on the ground. The whaling station will be closed this year as a post-industrial site. I tried to use this site as a laboratory for three different aspects of encouraging ecology, culture, and geology to design the landscape. Humans are no longer the main actors in making changes to the Icelandic landscape, but recorders and assistance of change in the natural landscape and trying to come up with a new solution for the Anthropocene industrial wasteland.

There are many traces of the Anthropocene in Hvalfjörðu. Quarries, pastures, a ferrosilicon ore plant, an aluminum smelting plant, and the only whale whaling station in Iceland (which will be closed this year) in the fjord. These industries are all unsustainable. The fjord is also full of non-human traces. There are also a bird protection area and seal habitats. Moreover, It is also a special geological feature formed by the retreat of glaciers. It can be said that the landscape in Hvalfjörður has been shaped by human, geological forces, and ecology. It is a good experimental base for research on how to create more sustainable landscapes in the Anthropocene.

In this chapter, I used the last whaling station in Iceland and its surrounding location as a pilot project. In the design, I used three different aspects(Culture, Ecology, and Geology)as subjects in shaping the landscape, with humans as observers and assistants in exploring ways to solve the problem of industrial land abandonment in the Anthropocene.

Cultural area The site contains the last whaling station in Iceland, and the oil tanks that fuelled the whaling industry. As the Icelandic whaling industry is in decline, these industrial sites will gradually become post-industrial sites. Although people have stopped 'sculpting' the landscape, the cultural impact of these industries has marked the site with unique cultural symbols. so how can we let culture shape this site? Perhaps this site could become a cultural center for people to learn about Iceland's whaling culture!

Oil tanks-whaling culture exhibition hall - I introduced the river into the site, using flooding as a way to show a strong resistance to unsustainable industries. In order to reduce human control and allow nature to do the designing, I reused basalt from Icelandic quarries, which provides a good nutrient base for plants and encourages their growth.

Whaling Station Square- I try to retain as much of the original architecture as possible in my design, while creating a variety of ways of interacting with the land and sea. A platform next to two old whaling ships encourages people to come closer to them and observe.

Geology area The site attempts to shape the Icelandic landscape through its geology while encouraging people to learn more about Iceland's geology as they visit the site.

Geological garden- To enrich the form of people's visit as much as possible while minimizing the disturbance of the site. Due to the special characteristics of the quarry, the site is also geologically random, which helps people to understand the geology of Iceland.Reusing Main product from Icelandic quarries, which is rich in nutrients that encourage plant growth.

Corridon in Intertidal zone-Reusing the Main product, pumice from Icelandicquarries, this special stone is formed by the cooling of volcanic lava, which is highly absorbent and prone islands in the sea, thus helping to create habitats for birds and seals in the fjords. People can observe the traces left by these creatures through the sea corridor through the created geological to moss and other plant growth. I use it to form landscapes.

Ecological area 

Experimental base for planted forests-Livestock farming is an important contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, Iceland has made great efforts to reclaim forest sites. Hvalfjörður has also been cited as a successful example of reforestation in Iceland. I use this site as an extensive forest experiment area. The warehouse where whales were previously stored can be converted into a greenhouse allowing seedling growth, and the former sheepfold can be converted into an outdoor planting site to help Iceland's reforestation practices.

Pit Pools-Pits can become waterlogged due to groundwater seepage, flooding, rain, and many other factors. Planting trees around the pits helps to create an ecosystem for the pits. At the same time, falling trees can also help to establish a small ecosystem in the water.

Natural restoration-This area of grassland near the harbor has been designed to reduce the impact of man and to encourage the free growth of plants to help create a habitat for wading birds. They need extensive wading space. Planted forests will make it difficult for them to establish a habitat in. It is also equipped with a viewing platform to help people experience the 'design' by ecology.