Next Project

Beyond Brass: Revivification of Colliery Landscapes, through the Community of Brass Banding, in a Green Energy Era

Part 2 Project 2024
Eleanor Lee
University of Cambridge | UK
Once integral to mining communities, brass bands face the brink of extinction, endangering the social connection and proud heritage they engendered. Since a young age, I witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by bands; few spaces seem designed for the band in mind. This thesis questions an architectural gap - a National Centre for Brass Banding.

Simultaneously, mining has left industrial scars on the British landscape in the form of disused Pits and Mounds; relics of outdated energy practices. In light of current pressures around green energy, the climate crisis, and biodiversity, former colliery sites present a unique opportunity for landscape revivification.

Against this backdrop, Beyond Brass aims to outgrow the ecologically negative landmark of discarded industrial infrastructure, proposing an environmentally conscious intervention celebrating brass bands. Situated at the foot of one of the UK’s largest former collieries at Maltby, the proposed spaces serve as vibrant hubs for musical expression, fostering inclusivity and engagement. Forging partnerships with local stakeholders, the proposal seeks to instil a passion for music among young people from an early age, nurturing a sense of community that spans generations. Beyond Brass illustrates a new environmental consciousness, harnessing the joy in music, to sustain a brass band legacy.


Tutor(s)

2024
• Page Hits: 174         • Entry Date: 27 August 2024         • Last Update: 11 September 2024