GARZWEILER

The Garzweiler mine is a gaping wound in the landscape, the result of 90 years of intensive lignite extraction. Swallowed villages, devastated landscapes, colossal infrastructures—what can be done with such a legacy? In 2030, the end of coal in Germany forces a rethink of this monumental void. Between memory and productivity: how can a once ever-changing territory be reinvented while engaging with the contemporary world?

Sixty million years ago, a vast forest covered the Garzweiler region. Over time, it fossilized, trapping carbon in the form of lignite. In just 90 years, this resource was extracted, releasing 100,000 tons of CO₂ per day. In 2030, with the mine’s closure, a new fossilization of the site can begin. We propose transforming this mining pit into a productive forest. Planted along a South-North grid, it optimizes sunlight for wood and biomass production. Former conveyors become forest paths, structuring the site and leading to wood export platforms. This requalification is a new form of extraction, embedded in one of Europe’s most densely populated regions, integrating into the intricate network of material flows that shape the territory. Excavators, relics of a bygone era, will remain frozen in the landscape, turning into industrial ruins that testify to the 20th century’s excessive energy consumption. Preserving this memory means revealing the impact of a civilization shaped by extreme resource exploitation. At the locations of the seven submerged villages, seven pavilions emerge. These structures host three key programs—educational, memorial, and service-oriented—anchoring a new site dynamic. They raise awareness about extraction issues, narrate the site’s history, and create an inhabited journey through the landscape. These pavilions are connected by a long descent carved into the excavated stratifications of the land. This unique pathway offers an immersive journey through the history and transformation of the territory. The Garzweiler forest thus becomes a productive, educational, and symbolic space—rooted in the future while carrying the memory of its past.