Sustainable Rotterdam

Club Watt, World's First Sustainable Dance Club - Live opening

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 5 Sep 2008 14:48:00 +0200

A milestone towards a more sustainable future was accomplished yesterday evening in Rotterdam when Club Watt opened its doors to the public.

From idea...
It took three years to turn an innovative concept to reality. In 2005, Enviu -Innovators in Sustainability and architect studio Döll Lab partnered to answer the question; how would a sustainable dance club look like? Back then, this was merely an exercice to explore the potential to green the clubbing scene, in which I was invited to be part of.

Check the video interview to Stef van Dongen (Enviu), Michel Smit (SDC), & Ted Langenbach (Watt) over the history behind the Sustainable Dance Club

By October 2006, the concept was mature enough to be publicly presented at Rotterdam club Off_Corso under the title The Critical Mass (video). Reaction from media, club owners, and the general public was extraordinary and brought it to next stage when it appeared very clear to everyone that a market for a dance club that turns environmental efficiency into part of the clubbig experience existed. The final concept is a comprehensive one combining technical solutions and managerial practices that when applied could largely improve the environmental performance of a club while adding value to the overall experience.
As result, the concept turned into a company named Sustainable Dance Club (SDC) which offers solutions to club owners that lead to a reduction in relation to comparable clubs of:

30% energy consumption
50% water
50% refuse generated
30% CO2 emissions

...to realisation
Yesterday, Club Watt was the first one to take the collection of solutions and managerial approach on board and show to everyone that sustainability in Rotterdam means planet, people, & party.

In a world premiere ;-) I broadcasted live the unveiling of this new venue. You can follow the tour given to the press, and have a first-hand experience of the well-known Sustainable Dance Floor (video) by Studio Roosegaarde at the following videos (love my N95 running Qik!). Next week will upload a video covering the opening.

Unveiling of the Sustainable Dance Floor by Michel Smit & Daan Roosegaarde

Watt's Creative Director Ted Langenbach on the club's program

More about the Sustainable Dance Club

Previous posts on the Sustainable Dance Club are available here, here, here and here
SDC on YouTube
Hard data about club Watt sustainability performance is available on pdf format here and here
Amongst others, the Sustainable Dance Club is possible thanks to the brains and hands of Enviu, Döll Lab, SDC, Studio Roosegaarde, & Watt

Thanks to Jeanette & Lotte from Club Watt, and Vera from SDC for the support provided during the opening.

Disclaimer: since January 2008 I am a part-time business developer for Enviu - Innovators in Sustainability

Wubbo Ockels on Enviu's Hybrid Tuk Tuk Battle

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 30 May 2008 16:17:00 +0200

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Enviu is busy these days with the so-called Hybrid Tuk Tuk Battle. This is a project aiming to find a technical solution to the in-efficient tuk-tuks (also known as auto rickshaws). This would allow a reduction of CO2 emissions and improve the quality of live of tuk tuk drivers. Last evening we had the kickoff party where, amongst others, the Dutch astronaut Wubbo Ockels expressed his support to this project. More Hybrid Tuk Tuk Battle at Hybridtuktuk.com More innovation & sustainability at Enviu.org

Urban Art: Rotterdam Mounted Police Crew

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 2 May 2008 10:55:00 +0200

More Mounted Police Art Here

Walking around the city of Rotterdam (NL) is an exciting adventure. I enjoy wondering around and doing some "treasure hunting"; discovering new architectural developments, interventions in urban art, and some times...art made with horse feces!

As a pedestrian, it is not rare to encounter with such artistic interventions in the city environment, performed by the so-called "Rotterdam Mounted Police Crew". If the original The London Police crew bombs cities with their bubbly and enjoyable characters, the Rotterdam Mounted Police bombs the city with aleatory and biodegradable pieces made out of fresh -and sometimes steamy- horse feces.

This form of urban art is specially interesting for the casual urban-treasure-hunter due to its intrinsic characteristics, including unique composition, and evolving nature of each piece;

Unique composition: some 12-15 rounded pieces typically organized on a linear way. Alternatively, the pieces may be distributed forming random shapes. This is believed to have a profound artistic meaning, probably linked the unconformity and rebellion.
Evolving nature: meanwhile most artists intervening the ruban scene wish to perpetuate their work by making it permanent, the Rotterdam Mounted Police does the opposite. Temporary pieces usually lasting up to 24h, which evolve in shape, texture and volume as time goes. Climate conditions intensify this.

I decided to document such artistic expression with the aim to better understand what its has been popularly named "Mounted Police technique" and the, until now, barely known artistic movement supporting it.

Did you also find Mounted Police technique in your city? Add your pics to the Flickr group for all urban treasure hunters to enjoy and discuss similar discoveries.

For more urban art (graffiti, stencils, stickers, 3D), check the Flickr set "Hunting for Urban Art"

Preparing for Rotterdam Markthal

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:16:00 +0200

photo I - photo II - photo III

Demolition works has started at the Hoogstraat in preparation for the construction of an indoor food market with MVRDV signature.

You can read more about Rotterdam Markthal at a previous post from this blog.

Enviu visits RDM Campus (Innovation Lab)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:12:00 +0200

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Enviu Innovation Lab aims to become a reference in the field of sustainable entrepreneurship & innovation. For this, Enviu is partnering with the Port of Rotterdam, Hogeschool Rotterdam, Rabobank, and Rotterdam Climate Initiative to open on 8-8-08 at RDM Campus.

The Endless City

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:03:00 +0100

Last year announcement about 2007 being the first time in human history that more people is living now in urban areas than in rural areas, is experimenting a growth in interest.

Just recently, Ricky Burdett and Deyan Sudjic published the massive piece of work entitled The Endless City; An authoritative and visually rich survey of the contemporary city.

"The Endless City is an unparalleled study of the growth of six of the World’s international cities (New York, Shanghai, London, Mexico City, Johannesburg and Berlin), exploring key structural, economic and social factors"

Complementary to the book launching, the authors publish an article at Business Week, and an interview to co-author Deyan Sudjic is available in the form of audiopodcast.

Video Review Green Challenge PICNIC07

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:22:00 +0200

Watch the video

Quick overview of PICNIC 07, where this year Green Challenge was hosted; a 500.000 award for good business ideas. Qurrent -an energy generating & saving system- received the prize from Sir Richard Branson.

Check the live update of the event
Read the post from Bruno Guissani's Lunch over IP
More videos at oriol.tv

PICNIC Green Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:49:00 +0200

PICNIC, the cross-media event, is here and this year comes with a nice surprise for all sustainability lovers: PICNIC Green Challenge. A contest supporting sustainable business ideas, awarding the best one with 500.000 euros (not bad, eh?). And guess what, the Sustainable Dance Club is amongst the finalists.

On saturday 27th, the award ceremony will take place at the Westergasfabriek (a former gas factory transformed in cultural platform). The winner of the contest will be announced by Sir Richard Branson (Virgin) and we're going to be there to capture the moment.

In case you cannot make it to Amsterdam, you can still follow the event live. I'm planning to send regular updates on saturday prior, during and after the event. To keep updated, simply go to my Twitter page and get automatic updates, including pictures sent from inside the event.

Will the SDC win the contest? Would I be able to talk with Sir Richard Branson? Keep tunned for the video report to be uploaded after the event.

When 29/09/07
Time 12:00-13:00
Where Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam

Blog about the Environment for Blog Action Day

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:21:00 +0200

On October 15th, bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind - the environment. Every blogger will post about the environment in their own way and relating to their own topic. Blog Action Day' aim is to get everyone talking towards a better future.

Blog Action Day is about MASS participation. Here are 3 ways to participate:

Post on your blog relating to the environment on Blog Action Day
Donate your day’s earnings to an environmental charity
Promote Blog Action Day around the web

The 11th Hour is Here

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 17:08:00 +0200

After the success of Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, a new documentary about environmental crisis arrives this summer to the cinemas. This time, is Leonardo DiCaprio who takes the chance to spread the word and make people aware of the current environmental degradation. Welcome to the The 11th Hour.

For what we've read and seen, it seems that DiCaprio goes a step further than Gore. If the previous environmentally centered movie was about rising awareness and did not offer any solution or agenda for action, The 11th Hour presents such solutions.

For this film, Leo interviews some of the most relevant thinkers in the area of environmental sciences. I personally find this a good trigger to spend some euros at the theater since the list includes, amongst others; Paul Hawken, Bruce Mau, Stephen Hawking, and William Mcdonough.

Meanwhile we wait for the film to be released in Europe, you may check the oficial site, or the "action" site where you can leave your suggestions and send your own movies, and finally, the YouTube site.

TNT zero emission trucks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:47:00 +0200

Today, Ivo Opstelten (Mayor of Rotterdam and Chairman of the Rotterdam Climate Initiative) and Peter Bakker (CEO of TNT) presented the two Smith electrical trucks which will be piloted in the Rotterdam area as part of the Rotterdam Climate Initiative. The vehicles, a 3.5-tonne Smith Edison EV and a 9-tonne Smith Newton EV, will operate emission free in congested areas. The pilot is a significant step to contribute to the objective to reduce CO2 emissions by half in Rotterdam by 2025 compared to 1990.

Via TNT Press Release

Dune 4.1 by Studio Roosegaarde

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 2 Jul 2007 02:05:00 +0200

Watch the video

Within Rotterdam 07 Year of Architecture, Studio Roosegaarde presented the latest version of the interactive landscape Dune 4.1.

Podsafe Music: Carlsblad by Aaron Acosta
Formats available: MPEG4 Video (.mp4), Flash Video (.flv)
Tags: oriolpascual, oriol.tv, opascual, roosegaarde, dune, maastunnel, rotterdam

Sustainable Dance Club does Amsterdam

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 31 May 2007 22:40:00 +0200

Enviu & Döll are doing it again! Check the press release:

The night of 1st June 2007 will be the informal kick-off of the ‘Sustainable Week in Amsterdam’ with the first Amsterdam sustainable dance night in Club 11. If you think sustainability is dull, think again! This special edition of the Sustainable Dance Club has a strong line up with DJs, VJs and promises to be a great club night. By offering an array of events for the visitor and the launch of Trees for Dance, 11 hopes to save 30% on water, energy and waste. This sustainable dance night is an initiative of Energiebureau ARC in cooperation with 11 and the Sustainable Dance Club.

See you tomorrow (ups!) at Club 11

22.00 – 05.00 uur

Tickets: € 12

Bonus Track: SDC gets social and now you can find it at MySpace, Hyves, and YouTube. Don't forget to add it to your subscriptions!

SDC @ MySpace
SDC @ Hyves
SDC @ YouTube

Related Posts: danceclub, Rotterdam, architecture, sustainability

Droog Design Contest: The Climate

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 19 May 2007 13:09:00 +0200

Droog Design is known for simple, yet amaizing products. This time, the Dutch firm is organizing a contest under the theme The Climate. At their site we read:

Ranging from ideas about food, heating, music, literature, fashion, architecture...anything you like in any form you wish.

The 10 best design proposals will be published on our website; the public will be invited to choose one favourite and vote for an overall winner.

What are you waiting for? The deadline for participation is June 30, 2007.

Related Posts: design, sustainability, events

Visual Earth Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 19 May 2007 12:41:00 +0200

The Japan Science and Technology Agency has developed a complete guide of planet Earth.

Earth Guide is an excellent educational tool using the power of infographics to answer eight questions which cover the basics of Earth functioning:

1. Where is the Earth located in the Milky Way galaxy?

2. How is the earth different from different planets?

3. Where does the sky become space?

4. Where does the sunlight that hits the Earth go?

5. How do water and carbon circulate?

6. What type of substances is the Earth made of?

7. What kind of land areas exist on the face of the Earth?

8. How big are the oceans of the world?

Check Earth Guide

5 Ways to Admire Rotterdam's Fire Limits

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 8 May 2007 14:29:00 +0200

Picture credit by Mothership

On Monday 14 May, in the evening, Rotterdam 2007 City of Architecture will illuminate the fire limits of Rotterdam’s city centre with over one hundred light beams. The fire limits mark the areas of the city that were destroyed by the bombing on 14 May 1940 and the ensuing fires that broke out. From 10.45 pm a blaze of light beams on these boundaries will light up the skies, making the true impact of this devastating event visible throughout the entire city.

5 ways to admire Rotterdam's Fire Limits:

Go to Coolsingel and check the piece "Struisvogels -Ostriches- on the Coolsingel" from Theatre Company Bonheur. At 6.30 pm, 7.30 pm, and 8.30 pm
Get ready for a unique performance by the French Mécanique Vivante and the Nieuw Trombone Collectief, with a firework display plus a composition for warning alarms and trombones. At 10.10 pm (Schouwburgplein)
After the concert, The Blossoming City by landscape architect Adriaan Geuze, will be unveiled at the Schouwburgplein.
Take a holistic view of the fire limits from the Groot Handelsgebouw (the roof terrace of Café Restaurant Engels, on Stationsplein 45), and the Euromast (on Parkhaven 20, entrance fee 5 euro) and the Witte Huis (on Wijnhaven 3). Fire limits running from 10:45 - 2:00.
Combine all the above with a bunch of friends, and the enjoyment is ensured!

via: Rotterdam 2007 City of Architecture

Related Posts: rotterdam, events, architecture

City Survey from The Economist

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 7 May 2007 20:38:00 +0200

Picture credit by David Haberlah

2007 is the first year in human history that more world population will live in cities, as opposed to rural areas. And this week, The Economist has decided to take a special look into the subject.

An ongoing migratory movement is presenting new challenges for urban planers, architects, and society in general. Last June, we were reporting about the matter due to the launching of UN-Habitat State of the World's Cities Report 06/07.

Catch up the audio interview to Johnny Grimond, and get a glimpse of this week's issue at The Economist site. For the full version, you may need to subscribe, or face to the kiosk.

RDM Achitecture'07 Opening

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 7 Apr 2007 14:39:00 +0200

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Subscribe to the Podcast via iTunes

This 2007, Rotterdam is a celebration of architecture. The agenda is full of activities and it all started last night (5/4/07) with an opening at Stationplein. Follow the coverage of events at SustainableRotterdam.com

This 2007, Rotterdam is a celebration of architecture. The agenda is full of activities and it all started last Thursday night at Stationplein.

Rotterdam 2007 City of Architecture

Lunch with Prof. B.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 22:29:00 +0200

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In this second episode of the Sustainable Rotterdam Video Series, Prof. Brezet reviews current activities at DfS, its connection with Rotterdam, and his view on the future of sustainable product design.

Professor Han Brezet pioneered the field of sustainable product design with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) "Promise" Ecodesign Manual. Since 1992, "Prof. B." has been the head of the Design for Sustainability program at Delf University of Technology (NL), where sustainable product design is holistically researched.

Sustainabledanceclub.com

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 22:21:00 +0200

Prepare for the night; dress your best outfit, call your friends, and meet them at the Sustainable Dance Club. We know, it's not there yet, but things are moving fast at Döll Lab and Enviu and the latest news announce the launching of the official website. What are you waiting for? All you wanted to know about the Sustainable Dance Club and never dare to ask, is served here.

Interaction Meets Sustainability

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 17:55:00 +0100

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Subscribe to the Podcast via iTunes

It's amazing how connections are made here in Rotterdam. Yesterday I visited the space that Enviu recently acquired to set up the future Creative Hub of Rotterdam. This will be a flexible working space where social entrepreneurs can develop their professional activities and interact with like-minded people.

While visiting the space, I met Daan Roosegaarde; an interactive artist interested in the relationship between body and the surrounding. Roosegaarde recently set up an interactive landscape in Amsterdam named Dune 4.0 of which an adapted version will be displayed at the Hub. In this short interview, he is also talking about the latest developments regarding the energy generating dancefloor.

Watch the interview at
Veoh
Google Video (iPod download)
YouTube

Cost-effective Recycling

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 13:09:00 +0100

We read at Springwise:

Going green has gotten a lot more enticing to consumers in communities served by Philadelphia-based RecycleBank. Households can earn RecycleBank Dollars, redeemable for discount coupons at select retailers, just for putting their recyclables out to be collected. But the incentives don't stop there. It's also great promotion and community recognition for participating businesses. Sound too good to be true? Well, you may be surprised to learn that it's even more cost-effective than most traditional recycling programs. Read more

Sustainable Rotterdam Google Group

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 23:23:00 +0100

Things are getting busy here, so I didn't have the opportunity to update the blog as often as I would like to. Moreover, I just set a Google Group in order to extend the conversation in a more dynamic way.

The idea just came from a Lazy Sushi Sunday at Stef's van Dongen apartment. It has been an amazing evening with excellent food from Taji “the Chef”, touchy tunes from Charlie Dee, and good conversation with all sort of creative professionals.

The Sustainable Rotterdam Google Group is a great tool to interact amongst those interested to provide their view regarding sustainability and cites, especially Rotterdam. So, subscribe to the group, check what others have said and add your own comments.

Check the Google Group

Graffiti Research Lab does Rotterdam

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 4 Feb 2007 11:55:00 +0100

"Calling all writers, street artists, prankster, bikers, protesters, citizens and untouchables! The Graffiti Research Lab will be in Rotterdam from February 7th through the 10th" That's how it reads the announcement made by this innovative graffiti crew.

The event is taking place within the Art Rotterdam festival, which it is defined as a show in the area of topical, contemporary art and is being held for the eighth time in the Cruise Terminal, in the ‘Kop van Zuid’ quarter of Rotterdam.

Graffiti Research Lab is taking control of the Renzo Piano KPN Telecom Building and turning the Kop Van Zuid into the People’s Revolutionary Green Laser Light District.

Visit the site to learn how to submit your work and display it on a 37 x 72 meter screen for everyone to see.

Landscape Observatory

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 3 Jan 2007 10:10:00 +0100

A landscape is an area, as perceived by the pubic, the character of which is the result of the dynamic interaction of natural factors - such as the relief, the rivers, the flora and fauna - and human factors - such as financial activities or historical heritage.

Why are landscapes important?

Because the quality of life of people depends on them
Because it reflects the good or ill health of the relationships between society and the land. It is an excellent indicator of environmental quality.
Because it is another factor in well-being. The European Landscape Convention makes the quality of landscape into a right; the right to enjoy agreable, harmonious landscapes, not degraded, which transmit various cultural and territorial identities
Because it offers pleasing sensations; aesthetic, sensory, emotional
Because it identifies us with the land, with the country. Landscape is a reflction of past lifestyles and, specifically, our history, and thus it has value as part of our heritage.

This is how landscapes are defined by the Landscape Observatory; an advisory body of the Catalan Authorities and for awakening society to matters of landscape. It studies landscape, monitors it, prepares proposals and sensitises society to the appropiatness of better protection, management and planing of the landscape in Catalonia in the context of sustainable development.