Opening of the Orty mine

Visitors arrive at the site via a new parking area along the main road. The parking lot is densely planted with trees and has a gravel surface, aiming to create a feeling of being in the forest rather than at the edge of a field as the trees grow over time. From the parking area, we head toward the forest along an existing footpath. At the entrance to the path, an information pavilion made of wood welcomes visitors, featuring a covered gathering space and public restrooms. Next to the pavilion, we create a gathering area under the trees, equipped with seating furniture, where a food truck will also be accommodated during the summer season.

Initially, the footpath leading to the mine follows the established route. The structure of the path reflects the simple, compacted multi-layered earth and crushed stone roads used during the opening of the mine, built from natural materials using traditional technology.

Before reaching the mine, the visitor route bends away from the existing path and continues in the bed of a watercourse. The trail in the watercourse provides a unique experience for visitors, allowing them to feel more deeply connected to the forest while minimizing disruption to the forest's wildlife. Due to the site’s conditions, the pathway built in the watercourse changes structure. Instead of a ground-based path, a wooden deck supported by ground screws is constructed, ensuring accessibility even in rainy weather.

Midway along the visitor route the built decking slightly widens. At this rest point, we present the wildlife of the forest surrounding the mine, including animal and plant species, their formation, and history. From there, the path continues through the watercourse and returns to ground level in front of the new visitor center.

Approaching from the north, the visitor building greets us as a single-story structure at the forest level. The restrained appearance is offered by the upper level of the building, which spans the nearly 10-meter height difference from the level of the mine.

The building was placed in a short dead end part of the mine that starts next to the mine entrance, forming an open crater. The open bed, with the visible structures of the rocks, evokes the original formation of the mine when extraction from the craters shaped the mining system. In this location, only smaller and younger trees grow, therefore the new building is minimally impacting the wildlife.

This position helps the building create a connection between the tranquil coziness of the forest and the raw starkness of the mine. The building's two faces illustrate this dual relationship: as a discreet forest cottage at the upper floor level, and as a stark operational building when viewed from the mine level.

In front of the house, outdoor reception and waiting areas are established on both the upper and lower levels. In the upper foyer, visitors can learn about the history of the mine, its usage, and its original approaches, while in the lower foyer, they can delve into the intricacies of mining technology and the use of kaolin rock. From the lower foyer, a thematic nature trail leads along the hiking paths and through the watercourse, exploring the relationship between mining technology and water.

The soil and rock excavated for the building’s foundation will be used on-site. The soil will be utilized for necessary landscaping, while furniture will be crafted from the rock, and blocks will be placed in the forest and parking area for outdoor exhibitions.

The mine building has four levels, adapting to the terrain. The upper level features open visitor spaces. Standing above the current mine entrance, the effect of the towering trees and the steep slope of the terrain create a special experience, conveyed through the open design of the visitor level. The lowest level houses operational spaces directly related to mine maintenance, while the two intermediate levels accommodate office, meeting, and rest areas for employees.

The visitor route to the mine is for pedestrian use. Vehicle access is provided along the existing eastern route, closer to Borek, separated from the pedestrian paths. A secondary building, separated from the operational building, will house accommodations and vehicle storage. As the size and implementation of these functions are uncertain, they can be adjusted flexibly depending on the site's operation, and the clear separation of non-direct maintenance areas noticeably reduces the scale of the operational building, which is quite justified in the dense forest environment.

The building will be constructed with a wooden frame and cladding, using natural materials and lightweight technology within the created crater. The external cladding, made of burnt wood, with its discreet dark tone and weather-resistant surface, blends into the shadows of the forest.