Vincent Min Wang

Peatlands cover 3 per cent of the world's land area, an estimated 4 million km2, belonging to one the most significant terrestrial carbon sink. Peat bogs hold at least 550 Gigatonnes of carbon, more than twice the carbon reserved in the global forests. 

The exploitation of peat can be seen in two ways, the human harvesting process with peat spade in contrast to machine harvesting at an industrial scale. The exploitation of peat led me to explore the whisky industry, known for blending the flavours of the soil, water and local identities as a distilled alcohol- terroir, where the balance in wilderness influencing the cultivated land plays a pivotal role.

In 1924, Rudolf Steiner published the Biodynamic movement, which emphasises ecological balance, biodiversity, and integrating animals, plants, and humans in a holistic approach to agriculture.

Recognised by its abundant ancient, waterlogged landscapes, Islay is situated off the western coast of Scotland. The significance of peat bogs in the Isle of Islay has a critical position in the local whisky industry, infusing its renowned single malts with a distinct and cherished character. Peat, a decomposed organic material found in bogs, is traditionally used as fuel for malting. When barley is dried over peat fires, it imparts smoky and earthy flavours that define Islay whiskies. The unique terroir of Islay's peat bogs contributes to the island's rich whisky heritage, making it an indispensable ingredient in crafting the Islay drams.

As the demand worldwide for Scotch whiskies grows, how could peat excavation be reimagined in harmony with whisky production? 

This project integrates the whisky industry and the ecology through a carefully regenerated land management system, re-establishing the ownership of the peat bog and the distillery as a worker-owned cooperative structure to share responsibilities from the proposed design scheme. The fractal system unfolds the two-dimensional approach from a grid system to a three-dimensional policy in peat bog excavation to question the ownership and restoration processes of the land. The aim is to promote the local peat's importance through rewilding processes, reversing the formation processes on how a peat bog was once created, allowing this intricately designed land management system to be taken over by nature from this formally artificial landscape. The ultimate goal of this rewilding process is to retrace back to 7000 years ago- the Neolithic revolution, when humans first established agriculture - the essential ingredient that made civilisation possible.

Without this unique, organic soil, there is no peated whisky.