[Under Construction] Woonzorg
Project Launch - 11/2024
Project End - 11/2025
Location - Rhoon
At a senior residential complex in Rhoon heat stress is an important factor on the resident's wellbeing. In a pilot to be installed coming November we'll explore together with Woonzorg whether reefs can effectively cool down the local environment by collecting, buffering and passively evaporating rainwater. We'll install a +-2 m² facade element and monitor temperature and humidity for at least a year with integrated sensors and IR camera's. A first prototype will be exhibited at the Dutch Design Week '24.
Links
Municipality Rotterdam
Project Launch - 11/2024
Project End - 11/2025
Location - Gele Keet, Rotterdam
In a collaborative research with the municipality of Rotterdam we'll explore the potential benefits a reef could have on local soil life. We'll install two prototypes, one connected to a downspout and the other not and monitor the effects on the surrounding soil, as well as the habitats in the reefs. Besides we'll explore the potential applications of reefs in relation to the challenges of the municipality.
Links
Maaskracht
Project Launch - 07/2024
Project End - 08/2025
Location - Maasheggen, Oeffelt
Rock armor along rivers is often applied to protect the riverside from erosion. These stones create a rather homogeneous set of habitats. Maaskracht initiated a pilot with us to research whether reefs can enhance the diversity in habitats in those conditions. 15 have been installed in a rock armor along the Meuse river and are being measured by Blom Ecology for at least a year.
Links
CKP
Project Launch - 01/2024
Project End - 07/2024
Location - Rhoon
In collaboration with Blauwe Bagger, Noorderwind, Waterweg and Stadskwekerij de Kas and funded by RvO Nederland we explored the potential of substituting our material with clay from dredge.
Links
Dura Vermeer Cruquius
Project Launch - 04/2024
Project End - 09/2025
Location - Dura Vermeer Bouw Midden West, Cruquius
At the office of Dura Vermeer in Cruquius we installed two reefs equipped with sensors. These sensors measure temperature and humidity at several locations within the reefs. The aim is to validate whether the complex geometries create diverse microclimates, and whether this diversity in conditions indeed stimulates biodiversity.
Links
Rain Reef - Blue City
Project Launch - 06/2022
Project End - 12/2023
Location - BlueCity Lab, Rotterdam
The project is a joint effort with Citylab010 (Municipality Rotterdam), who provided funding along with BlueCity Lab, the building along which the reefs are installed.
The project's main objective is to understand how rainwater can be caught and used for enhancing microclimates for biodiversity.
The reefs are made with ceramics. With the Rain Reef, the geometric complexity is combined with the capacity of the reef to store rainwater, thus complementing existing drainage. The reef is self-sufficient, requiring minimal maintenance.
The four reefs installed each have a unique design, with a spout from which the rainwater may overflow when the reefs are full.
Due to their design, a cooler and more humid microclimate forms in the reefs. On average, we have measured that the Rain reefs are two degrees cooler than the surrounding climate. This provides a refuge to various organisms, while also mitigating the heat-island effect.
Links
Enhancing the bioreceptivity of ceramic RainReefs - Dave Matser
CityLab10. URBAN REEF. CIRCULAIRE REGENTON VOOR BIODIVERSTITEIT
Instagram post - BlueCity reefs design
Yuverta High School
Project Launch - 01/2023
Project End - 06/2023
Location - Yuverta High School, Nederweert
The project is financed by and conducted in collaboration with the Yuverta High School Nederweert. We installed several reefs on the school's playground. Yuverta integrated the reefs in their biology, agriculture and technology courses, where students are being taught how to make bio-films, take microclimatic measurements of humidity, PH and temperature with sensors.
Links
Instagram post - Yuverta High School project
Rotterdam Rooftop Walk
Project Launch - 05/2022
Project End - 26/06/2022
Location - Roof of the Bijenkorf, Rotterdam
This project was part of a temporary exhibition on a rooftop in Rotterdam where we installed three reefs of varied sizes. Besides great exposure it explored the application of reefs on roofs and balconies, for example their stability in windy locations.
Links
URBAN REEF, DESIGN FOR BIO-INCLUSIVE CITIES
ROTTERDAMSE DAKEN DAGEN. JE KAN HET DAK OP!
Instagram post - Reefs at the Rotterdamse daken dagen
Floriade 2022
Project Launch - 04/2022
Project End - 10/2022
Location - Floriade Park, Almere
During the horticultural world exhibition Floriade in Almere several reefs were exhibited on the balconies of the Dutch Pavilion, curated by Next Nature Network.
Links
Instagram post - Nature loves Technology
Sparrow Reef - Green Village Delft
Project Launch - 01/2023
Project End - 11/2023
Location - The Green Village, Delft
We initiated the project by reaching out the the province of South Holland and Vogelbescherming NL, a Dutch bird protection organisation.
While we aim to design from bottom-up strategies through which diverse habitats emerge, in this project we investigated the other we around. Can we integrate specific habitats in the designs, in this case those of sparrows? The aim was to gain insights and experience in this, to eventually enhance the more bottom-up design strategies.
Links
Blijdorp Rotterdam Zoo
Project Launch - 08/2022
Project End - ongoing
Location - Diergaarde Blijdorp (Rotterdam Zoo), Rotterdam
The project, initiated by VPDelta, was launched as part of an exhibition at the zoo. It serves as an experiment to observe how the reefs evolve in the varied environmental conditions of the zoo as well as enhancing the reefs' exposure to the greater public.
Since the project's launch, our team has been present at tours and exhibitions to introduce the reefs to Blijdorp visitors.
Links
Printing with Life
Project Launch - 04/2021
Project End - 12/2021
Location - RDM, Rotterdam
In a research funded by Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie, we explore the potential of printing with living materials. We did experiments with several organic materials like paper pulp, coffee ground, mycelium, dredge, cow shit, and seeds.
Links