The Mineless Heritage | Divooe Zein architects

Mineless
Located in the mountains and forests of Baiji Section in Sanxia District, New Taipei City, Mineless is a reformed space that was once a logistical facility for the Chungyi Coal Mine.

Remnants
The original structures of the mining facility were scattered throughout the wilderness, including the administrative offices, mine entry remnants of Japanese colonial-era, a crane base, coal washing areas, miner's dormitories, a cafeteria, a bathhouse, and more. Since Taiwan ceased all mining activities in 2000, these industrial buildings have remained abandoned.

Function
Within the facility, various areas have been repurposed for the following functions, including the preserved building of remnants, a wild herb tea shop, a small theater, a natural herb tea aroma room, an art exhibition area, a grand hall for meditation, and a seating area for tea with tree’s root in the sky. Mineless aims to integrate contemporary uses into the ancient and decaying functional spaces, creating rich and vibrant scenes.

Restoration
The restoration of the main buildings focuses on the structure, electrical systems, waterproofing engineering, restoration of the original appearance, craftsmanship in producing hand-made vintage furniture, and the use of native plants for landscaping, etc. These efforts employ a series of reversible methods that are harmless and friendly to historical buildings. They bridge and harmonize the differences between new and old objects in the space.
The primary materials used in the restoration are black iron with an oil-shell like luster and recycled old wood. The aging rust and weathered textures of these materials, in harmony with the original architectural style, coexist seamlessly with the restoration of the structure, functional use, and historical flavor.

Grotto-heaven
After three years of meticulous research, analysis, preservation, planning, and construction, the existing space has been reorganized and redefined. In the midst of this beautiful space, we aspire to create a sanctuary for human connection with oneself, tranquility, history, and nature within the remnants of the mountainous coal mine.

PROJECT INFO
• Design and Planning: Divooe Zein Architects
• Year: 2023
• Location: New Taipei City, Taiwan
• Project: Coal mine restoration
• Site Area: 2380 m²
• Building Area: 395 m²
• Stories: 2 floors on the ground

CREDITS
• Client: Mineless
• Execution: C.C.H Architects
• Structural Consultant: Pei Hsiu Kao
• Hydrological Consultant: Te Chen Wei
• Lighting Design: WEDO Lighting
• Visual Design: Lulu Lin / Fan Yu Lin
• Photograph: Justin Kao / Lulu Lin / Fan Yu Lin
• 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