Abstract.

The Dalarna region in Sweden has a history of mining that spans over a thousand years. The mines have been the backbone of the Swedish economy during large periods of time and were central to the communities built around them.

Today, there are more than a thousand historical mines in the region. A few are remembered and visited, but most were forgotten a long time ago. Overgrown openings in the landscape are seemingly all that is left to tell the story of labour in the forests of Dalarna, until you look deeper.

The Östra Silvberg mine is one of the oldest silver mines in Sweden, possibly having been established as early as the 8th century. After being intermittently mined down to a depth of 250 meters, the mine was closed and abandoned in the 1920’s and has since then flooded.

In recent years the mine has been rediscovered by divers, who explore the underground passages and wooden structures preserved by the vitriolic water.

This master thesis explores a potential development of the Östra Silvberg mine with a design that programmatically supports the already present informal bathing and diving activities.

The proposal consists of three buildings connected by a path. Using the subterranean spaces of the mine as a point of departure, the design aims to convey a story through a sequence of space, material, and colour.