In 2000, Taiwan ceased all coal production, putting several coal mining facilities out of use. While the industry had expanded in the 19^th century, output had been small, amounting to around 7000 metric tonnes per month from four coal pits in the country. Today, there are almost 400 retired coal mines in Taiwan, of which one in New Taipei has been converted into the Taiwan Coal Mine Museum, while one in Houtong is now a ‘cat village.’ As afterlives of industrial infrastructure go, there could be worse fates for the structures. A recent project by Taipei-based Divooe Zein Architects similarly transforms a logistical facility for the Chungyi Coal Mine in Sanxia into a recreational centre called Mineless.

Nestled in the forests of the district, away from the city, the centre becomes a space for visitors to relax, playing up the aesthetic of the former mining spaces with renewed vigour. The restoration project plays up the idea of the building’s former functions; which served as a bathhouse. The refurbishment of the public architecture, scattered within the terrain was the result of extensive research and analysis with preservation efforts reorganising and redefining the spaces. The approach reflects the architecture studio’s holistic approach to design that considers the building, surrounding environment, perception and other factors.

The original structures of the mining facility, including the administrative offices, remnants of the Japanese colonial era, a crane base, coal washing areas, miner's dormitories, a cafeteria, and a bathhouse were transformed and repurposed into spaces that could house the functions of a recreational architecture. The functions in the “preserved remnants” of the industrial buildings include a wild herb tea shop, a small theatre, a natural herb tea aroma room, an art gallery, a grand hall for meditation, and a seating area connected to the landscaping; all meant to redistribute function and help create new meaning. Architecture has continuously grappled with its seeming permanence, the vestiges of former eras dotting the natural landscape. Perhaps the most conspicuous will remain the vestiges of industry, the concrete structures symbolising an age of excess extraction. As we move away from such delusions, the question remains of utilising these architectures in some form, as has been the case for many recent adaptive reuse projects.

What’s perhaps most alluring about the project here is the treatment of its interior design which makes it seem deliberately unfinished, a permanent ruin in a way. From exposed reinforcements that divide an otherwise double-height space in the restaurant design to the grime on the walls, there is a contrast between the activities and the space itself. As the architects elaborate, “Mineless aims to integrate contemporary uses into the ancient and decaying functional spaces, creating rich and vibrant scenes,” the upkeep of the industrial aesthetic is an interesting choice with the deliberate use of run-down walls with the upgradation of services transporting the visitor to another time. One gets the same feeling from the context, seemingly in the midst of nowhere.

Rather than focusing on completely transforming the spaces through sleek, minimalist interior design, the restoration of the spaces by the designers focuses on the structure, electrical systems and waterproofing engineering to ensure they are usable. Maintaining a ruin-like look also required intervention by the designers, with iron and recycled old wood as some of the primary materials used. The textures of the materials, which will continue to weather, are in harmony with the original architectural style adding a historical flair to the spaces. Native plants in the landscaping allow the buildings to blend into the terrain Further, the designers fitted the space with hand-made vintage furniture to highlight local craftsmanship.

They go on to state, “These efforts employ a series of reversible methods that are harmless and friendly to historical buildings. They bridge and harmonise the differences between new and old objects in the space.” The question of working with structures that serve infrastructural purposes is always contentious. How do we restore and work with the existing? How do we or should we ensure that a bridge is created between the old and the new? Maybe we leave them to deteriorate, a reminder of the former industry?

There is a certain allure to the ruin, a space of no time, where the effects of nature are heightened. While restoration projects often tend to clean things away and make these spaces feel modern, the fact remains that these are discarded spaces. The Mineless Heritage Renovation straddles this dichotomy, its blackened walls the result of decay and the functions breathing new life into the spaces. If a mining village could be a haven for cats (and a place this writer would definitely live in), the possibilities for industrial architecture to be more are only amplified.

Project Details

Name: Mineless Heritage Restoration
Year of completion: 2023
Location: New Taipei City, Taiwan
Site Area: 2380 sqm
Built up Area: 395 m²
Consultants:
Execution: C.C.H Architects
Structural Consultant: Pei Hsiu Kao
Hydrological Consultant: Te Chen Wei
Lighting Design: WEDO Lighting 
Engineering Project Team: Studio Air Micro
Landscape Engineering: Shen Mao Green House LTD.
Furniture Engineering: Divooe Zein Architects / An-Ting Casa Furniture / INNI Studio / Da Kang Furniture