- Southeast University China, Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, September 2017 to June 2022
- University of Edinburgh UK, Master of Landscape Architecture, September 2023 to present
Huan Yu
Reclaiming the Cliffs
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Skills & Experience
Project description
This project is located along the eastern coast of Dunbar, Scotland, just near an active limestone quarry. The ongoing quarrying process reshapes the land and generates large amounts of waste rock, which can act as an opportunity for habitat regeneration.
Focusing on seabird species record along the coast, the design responds to their need for steep cliffs, rocky slopes, and wetland microhabitats especially in breeding seasons. This design will build groups of artificial cliffscape aligning with the quarry’s 10-year excavation rhythm, using waste material to gradually construct ecological barriers and bottom wetlands.
The phased design will support natural succession through minimal intervention, chosing vegetation species around the lake and typical calcareous grassland types. Human access is restricted during breeding seasons, while off-season routes and observation points offer public engagement and educational opportunities.
The project ultimately aims to establish a habitat node in the seabird corridor between Bass Rock and St. Abbs, linking a coastline bird path through ecological intervention.
Project team
Strategic Opportunity for Artificial Cliffs
Analysis of coastal topography shows that while seabird sightings are recorded throughout this stretch, the absence of steep cliffs along much of the coast has prevented the establishment of stable breeding colonies.
However, the site's existing quarry offers a rare opportunity: through ecological intervention, the artificial cliff structures could be adapted to support new seabird nesting habitats, bridging the ecological gap between two important conservation areas: Bass Rock and St. Abbs Head.
Quarry Operations and Environmental Impact Sequence
The quarry is scheduled to expand eastward continuously until 2075. The north-eastern edge consists of beach zones with the overall terrain gently sloping from southwest to northeast.
Beyond the quarry, the site also accommodates key industrial infrastructure such as haul roads, stockpile areas, and auxiliary facilities connected to the nearby cement works. A major transportation road currently cuts across the site and will remain a primary corridor for quarry operations throughout the project timeline.
Restored Quarry Ecology: Year 2075
Full development of ecological micro-zones across the site after 50 years of adaptive transformation. Artificial cliffscapes, wetlands, and grassland terraces co-exist to support seabird breeding.
Time-Based Landscape Evolution: 2035–2075
Step-by-step formation of seabird habitats. Each decade adds new ecological zones shaped by quarry remains and waste, gradually turning industrial terrain into a resilient ecological area.
Species Nesting Logic and Planting Strategies
How different seabird species select nesting zones based on microtopography. Planting layers respond to slope, soil, and shade, creating textured habitats from cliff to wetland.
A Living Cliffscape: Three Layers of Human-Bird Interaction
A Glimpse Into a Growing Habitat: Micro-zone Model
A scaled-down model of one micro-habitat unit formed over a decade. The tiny bird and human figures highlight the scale of change and the intimacy of ecological design in a vast, evolving terrain.
Huan Yu
Reclaiming the Cliffs
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