TRANSCAPES is an ongoing long-term project that observes the transformation of former lignite mines into new landscapes. The process called “recultivation” describes the restoration of mountains, fields, lakes, rivers and forests that were previously destroyed to satisfy mankind's hunger for energy.

Over the decades, a total of around 1,700 km2 (170,000 hectares) of land in Germany has been taken up by opencast lignite mining. Of this, around 500-600 km2 will still be in operation as active opencast mines until the final end of lignite mining in 2038. The recultivation of opencast mines in Germany is regarded internationally as a model. Long-term planning, diversity of subsequent use and technical know-how are highly regarded. The loss of ecologically valuable areas such as intact forests and moors is criticized, as is the impact on the groundwater level due to the use of water to fill open-cast mine pits.

What interests me is the understanding of nature and the environment of those who instruct and carry out this recultivation. What will the landscapes look like that are designed and built on the basis of needs analyses, community interests, feasibility studies and financial interests? And what will life be like in them?