Sustainable Construction Model for Rehabilitation and Protection of environmentally fragile and degraded areas: Laciana Valley

Abstract

Coal mining activity was the main source of income in the Laciana Valley region (León,Spain) from the 1950s to the 1980s. This mining activity has left fingerprints in the Laciana landscape, along with completely abandoned buildings and infrastructures. Within the framework of the R&D Spanish National Plan Program (2004-2007) and the Sustainable Construction principles, a research project has been addressed, aiming protection, management, and landscape and built environment planning for this area, as main targets. At the same time, the establishment of guidelines for suitable and sustainable management of future constructions, by promoting activities adapted to the economic development and the social revitalization of the territory, is another aim. By applying sustainable principles for regional planning to new activities, the region?s identity and culture will be reinforced. In other words, a model of sustainable construction for an environmentally deteriorated and fragile area is to be pursued in Laciana Valley.