Organic Fiber Cultivation: The mill is designed as a series of courtyards and squares which are shaped along a public route running between Marabastad and the river. Movement along the building’s edges is layered according to these changing contextual conditions, and exposes industrial processes to the public. Bast-fiber fields which surround the mill extend and regenerate natural habitat instead of reducing it, re-define industrial agriculture for the 21st century.

Presentation of the “Next Generation” 3rd prize for “Machinarium: Regenerative urban catalyst and textile production, Pretoria, South Africa” (l-r): Daniel Irurah, jury member and Senior Lecturer, School of Architecture & Planning, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; winner Heidi van Eeden, University of Pretoria, South Africa; and Edward Schwarz, General Manager of the Holcim Foundation, Switzerland.

Algae-based dye cultivation: By housing a living organism as part of the architectural skin, the mill’s spatial experience is in constant flux, and is directly connected to the natural metabolism of the algae and movement of water. As the varicolored algae species are grown, sunlight is filtered through the glass tanks to create organic ‘stained glass’ dappled light inside the building. The building’s façade also morphs as the algae is grown and harvested for dye and energy.

Reclaiming the wasteland: Re-programming latent industrial infrastructure on site.

Extending ecological habitat by creating a “living” architectural façade.

Alternative Waste Water Treatment: Wetland-based systems blur boundaries between industry and nature.

Sustainable Energy: Steam powers textile machinery and regulates internal humidity and thermal control.

Skills training and fashion workshops encourage community participation and cultural expression.

Investigation of program and context to identify potential resource exchanges and spatial interaction.

A proposed urban vision defines the mill as a regenerative urban catalyst within its context.

Plan-to-section illustrating the industrial journey: Urban to natural condition.

Heidi van Eeden