Wind turbines in a wind farm have an operational lifespan of 30 years. But what happens to the dismantled parts after that? In 2023, cepezed, Starling Associates, Studio Carbon and Superuse Studios developed concepts for this in a Lab with Vattenfall. Superuse transformed a nacelle into a complete Tiny House. Studio Carbon created a vision for the entire energy sector. Starling Associates builds emotional support through data paintings. And cepezed sees various possibilities for using wind turbine blades as floating platforms. Curious? Check out the exhibtion at Ketelhuisplein.
How can we reduce the negative impact of urbanisation and make cities actively contribute to a healthy and sustainable living environment? In short, how do we create a city that gives back? This is the central question in Sweco’s What if Lab this year. Over the past months, Philippe Rol (Volle Grond) & Lex Hildebrant (Hildenbrant Architecture & Drawing), Fides Lapidaire and Kornelia Dimitrova (Studio Kornelia Dimitrova) & Aukje Goossens en Aleksandar Tadic (Massif Architects) together with experts from the architectural and engineering consultancy Sweco, took on this unique design challenge. At DDW24, they present the results at Klokgebouw in Strijp-S (Hall 1): The Give Shop, Inner Landscape & What if stations gave back?
Earlier this year, the designers from What if Lab: Sustainable Public Spaces exhibited at the Erasmus Huis in Jakarta. Now they’re coming to DDW24! What if we involved local communities in co-creating sustainable public spaces? This question led to ‘Rujak Plaza,’ a modular system aimed at strengthening the temporary public spaces that exist throughout the kampung, while also celebrating the community tradition of sharing ‘Rujak’ fruit salad. Visit the exhibition in Klokgebouw (Hall 1).
In the ‘Designing Society’ exhibition at Ketelhuisplein, we present a few finished labs and the intermediate results of the ongoing lab with ActiZ.
Caring Neighbourhoods with ActiZ
ActiZ believes that the entire society must play a role in this. In the Netherlands, caring communities are already emerging, where neighbours look out for one another and organize care close to home, together with a local support coordinator. This changes the role of healthcare professionals: shorter lines, a focus on prevention, and more technological support. In the Lab: Caring Neighbourhoods, design studio morgenmaker is exploring this transformation together with three healthcare organizations. They are designing concepts for the healthcare professional of the future. What will be in the proverbial nursing bag in 20 years?
Lookback by Greenberry
In the Lab: Young Recruit (2021), Greenberry and the Action Center for Safety and Care Amsterdam (AcVZ) developed Lookback, a method to prevent violent incidents among young people and gain more control over their online world. With this method, participants can create a timeline with information from those involved before an incident. By analysing patterns, ‘red flags’ are identified, offering insights into how future incidents can be prevented.
Groen voor Blik van Studio 1:1
For a long time, cars were at the centre of urban planning. In Dutch cities, cars take up about half of the total road space. As population density grows, the available space remains the same. It’s time to rethink mobility, focusing on people instead of cars. How can mobility contribute to more well-being, connection, and a better environment? In Groen voor Blik, Studio 1:1 has developed traffic zones with green and social functions, such as water storage, playgrounds, gardens, and bike parking.
BouwBox van (ink).
Studio (ink). developed the concept Studio (ink). BouwBox in the Lab: Equal Opportunities with ABN AMRO. Research revealed that paternity leave, despite its availability, is rarely taken due to biases, even though science shows it is a great equaliser. BouwBox is a symbolic building block set with a magazine encouraging young families to reflect on equal caregiving responsibilities. Through personal stories and reframing, paternity leave becomes the norm rather than the exception.
CircleFarm van Floris Schoonderbeek
Circle Farming is a form of agriculture that makes better use of limited space. Instead of traditional rectangular fields filled with monocultures, regenerative strip farming of various crops is arranged in circles. “The arm that makes circles is ideal for cooperation between people, tools, and robotics,” says Floris Schoonderbeek. The spaces between the circles can also be used for housing and forestry. This project is featured not only in the Designing Society exhibition but also prominently in the Klokgebouw.
Valuescapes by Starling Associates
In What if Lab: Rethinking Shared Space (2023) with Sweco, Starling Associates developed a concept to encourage mixed-use functionality in transition areas. Valuescapes is a tool that, using a three-dimensional landscape, maps the values, qualities, and opportunities of an area. Starling uses machine learning, a form of artificial intelligence, to assist with efficient decision-making in infrastructure, balance green spaces with urban development, and engage diverse stakeholders. Discover the tool at Klokgebouw.
Rainwater Retention Panel by Tjeerd Veenhoven
Tjeerd Veenhoven developed the Rainwater Retention Panel in What if Lab: Totally Local (2022) with Sweco. This innovative ceramic facade panel captures and stores excess rainwater to prevent damage to sewage systems and infrastructure. Its porous structure allows the water to evaporate slowly, cooling the facade and surroundings, which is essential in increasingly warmer summers. Additionally, the facade promotes the growth of mosses, which contribute to urban biodiversity.
This system not only helps regulate water during heavy rainfall but also reduces the urban heat island effect. The combination of water storage and evaporation makes the panel suitable for new construction and renovations. By retaining water on the facade, microhabitats for insects are created, which play a crucial role in the food chain.
Mensenkenners by (ink).
The concept Mensenkenners developed by (ink). in What if Lab: Unhindered participation, in collaboration with Ministry of Education, Culture & Science, can be found in Klokgebouw this year. Inclusivity is a muscle that needs to be trained like any other – and that is what the Mensenkenners project is about. Public places too often contain barriers for people with disabilities. The goal of Mensenkenners is to lower these obstacles, not only literally but also figuratively. Hop on the Mensenkenners bike and start your training by entering the world of Debby, Jessica, Maurits, Rowan and Sep. Get answers to questions you never dared to ask and insights you never thought about before.
What if Lab’s presence at Dutch Design Week 2024 offers a glimpse into the future of design, where sustainability, collaboration, and innovation take centre stage. From transforming wind turbine parts to rethinking urban spaces, each project challenges us to imagine new ways of living and working together. Explore the exhibitions at Strijp-S and see how design can inspire meaningful change in our daily environments.
