Abstract

The visual impact of open-pit mineral workingsalong sloping terrain generates conspicuous scars extending tothe surrounding landscape. Such irreversible developmentspermanently alter the original landform. This is morepronounced in areas of high landscape value. The aim of thispaper is to put forward the case for a contextual design of arestoration scheme grounded in the geophysical and culturalelements making up the landscape character and thuscomplimenting it. This is demonstrated through a case study ofGozo, a picturesque sister island of Malta, known as the islandof Calypso after the legendary Homeric nymph, where suchquarries have significant visual impact. Based on site contoursderived from historical survey sheets and making reference tovernacular cultural features within the surroundings, arestoration and rehabilitation of a disused quarry based on ageocultural approach to landscape design was developed. Priorrehabilitated to sustainable agrarian parcels of land, the sitecontours were re-introduced together with field boundaries topre-mineral operational status. This approach is a rationalsolution derived from rural vernacular architecture and ensuresa landscape design solution which reinstates the scenic qualityand the aesthetic experience of the area.