How can we design a scheme which holistically considers the needs of all users of a site, human, fauna and

This thesis aims to address the dischord in our relationship with nature in terms of how we occupy and design an architectural project. The thesis aims to take a fresh approach to adaptive reuse and conservation by not shying away from the process of building ruination as a result of lack of human inhabitation. A key focus is that lack of human inhabitation doesn't mean lack of all inhabitation. The inhabitation by flora and fauna of a space and how we can coexist in such spaces rather than separate ourselves has been the main driver behind this project.

Whilst the UK isn't suffering as extreme consequences of climate change as other nations, since the 1970s, 41% of species in the UK have seen a decline in population. Additionally, the construction industry is hugely carbon intensive and it is our responsibility as architects to address this. By reusing old buildings and making space for nature within them, rather than striving for a 'new' appearance, even when using historic sites, we have the opportunity to pioneer a way of reducing our built environment carbon footprint whilst improving our ecosystem simultaneously.

Through looking at the wider community and connections to other places in South Wales, the opportunity to draw people in on their route from Cardiff to Brecon was explored. The site is covered with old buildings, trees and areas to explore and so the concept of a climbing centre developed. The proposal is for a climbing centre to be inserted within one of the existing buildings and to link up to an additional existing building on a higher level of site through a climbing tower. The project includes an ambitious wildlife plan which includes opening up the culvert for the river on site and a large area of wetlands which link up to a passive mine water treatment scheme to address the water pollution caused by mining process. Adventurous methods of movement across site have been proposed, such as zip wires and rope bridges, to allow the site to be explored in any way users - human or not, wish to. The proposal seeks to continue the colonisation of site by nature, which extends to the climbing centre which includes nesting areas and pockets of planting within the façade to encourage this colonisation.

Overall, I feel that the project has been successful in putting forward a proposal for how we can create a space which allows for both people and flora and fauna to thrive. Whilst the proposal is truly embedded in its setting and the architecture and landscape plan are bespoke, the approach taken to the historic buildings and nature on site is something I do believe can be applied to other adaptive reuse projects with success to allow us to build and occupy architecture more harmoniously with nature.