TRURO MUSSLE FARM

A scheme which employs the use of mussels to filter and purify the River Truro of mining contaminates, thus bringing new life and allowing the water way to be used again.

 

Garras Wharf since the 1960s has experienced a complete loss of marine industry around the immediate area of the waterway. As a symptom of this the river has ceased to be maintained and has become blocked by mud banks, caused by the erosion of tailing hills from the more northern tin, copper and zinc mines. Due to this, harmful materials such as arsenic and iron oxide have entered the river, and through that, the ocean. 

The introduction of mussels to the river hopes to provide an environmentally conscious un-obtrusive method of filtration. The building as a whole acts as a primer which facilitates the wider scheme which will eventually implant itself in rivers and water ways around Cornwall. The building consists of spaces dedicated to the production of mussels, which insures they are properly acclimatised to the conditions within the river. The packaging of mussels into cages which will be implanted into the river also occurs here, and are taken to their destination via the RRS Truro for implantation. The scheme also consists of a workshop for the hoisting out of boats for repair and maintenance, this condition is made into an act of theatre for the public, which they can observe from a separate platform.