129 DS1 Design Studio I
May 2025 – present
For my final studio project, I designed the Příbram Mining Center in Bytíz, Czech Republic, a site that once housed the country’s third deepest uranium mine. Active from 1955 to 1991, the mine produced 36% of the nation’s uranium and was marked by the use of political prisoners as labor1. The center is intended as a space for reflection and reconciliation, acknowledging both the industrial legacy and human cost of the site.
The building’s design draws heavily from the mining experience. A retaining wall guides visitors downward, echoing the descent into an open-pit mine, while circular vaults mimic shaft entrances. The structure is embedded into the earth—two floors fully submerged and two partially set into a cliff—creating a spatial experience that mirrors the feeling of being underground. Skylights offer glimpses of the surface, reinforcing the miner’s perspective and introducing natural light.
Material choices and site integration reinforce the narrative. The building’s organic form follows the terrain, and its green roof aligns with the historic mining tower, encouraging visitors to reconnect with the site. Weathered yellow-gold metal panels reference uranium ore and face incoming traffic as a visual reminder of the region’s past. Curtain walls frame views of the surrounding landscape, grounding the center in its natural and historical context.
Practically, this project involved a thorough site visit, drafting and modelling of the site and building, the creation of a physical model, and production of a final poster to be presented to the department.
