On Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 September 2023, Architect@Work will take place at Taets on the Hembrugterrein in Zaanstad. It will be the first edition of the event in the Amsterdam metropolitan region. Architectenweb put together a varied lecture programme around the theme ‘Healthy Materials’. Speakers include Maike van Stiphout (DS), Oana Bogdan (&bogdan), Nina Aalbers (ArchitectuurMaken) and Aleksander Kongshaug (GXN).
It’s going step by step… but we are unmistakably moving towards a construction that will eventually emit almost no CO2 and that no longer comes at the expense of nature but instead advances it. We are moving towards a construction that is circular, biobased, nature-inclusive and energy-positive.
Bio-based construction
Architects are making strides in all these areas. In her lecture at Architect@Work, architect Nina Aalbers of ArchitectuurMaken explains how they are making their projects increasingly circular, biobased, nature-inclusive and energy-positive. To this end, she and her firm increasingly design buildings in wood, but also use second-hand materials. When it comes to bio-based building, fast-growing materials like hemp are also interesting. The largest application of lime hemp so far is in the east of the country, in the town hall of Voorst. What is it like to build with it? In his lecture, architect Joost Roefs of De Twee Snoeken shares his experiences.
In doing so, the design researchers at GXN – the research arm of 3XN – are constantly pushing the boundaries further. When building in CLT, parts are cut out to make doors and windows. How can these cutouts also be used? What other biobased materials can be used in construction? And maybe we don’t need to build without concrete, but with different, more sustainable concrete. So what does that look like? In his lecture, architect Aleksander Kongshaug of GXN will take you through what the near future may hold. Architect Christian Veddeler of the Dutch branch of 3XN will illustrate this story with some of the firm’s current projects.
Nature-inclusive design
When it comes to nature-inclusive design, landscape architect Maike van Stiphout of DS landschapsarchitecten has a long track record. According to her, many small steps in the right direction for nature, and the animals living in it, can make a lot of difference. In her lecture, she will share quite a few practical tools for this purpose. One interesting strategy here is the design of compact clusters of development amid wooded nature. In the development of the Hembrug site – where this edition of Architect@Work takes place – BURA urbanism is striving for such a nature-inclusive living and working environment. In his lecture, urban planner Marco Broekman of BURA urbanism will discuss the plans for the area, how its character can be preserved and enhanced, and how the wooded nature will be preserved in the process.
On top of all that, architect Oana Bogdan of &bogdan (formerly Bogdan & Van Broeck) also focuses on social sustainability. With her firm, she works a lot on hybrid programmes interwoven with public spaces in complex urban locations. Bogdan is also active as a politician and advisor on sustainable urban development for the Brussels region.
Exhibitions
The theme of Architect@Work is once again ‘Healthy Materials’. In addition to the lecture programme, this is reflected, for example, in the materials exhibition ‘Healthy Heroes’ by MaterialDistrict, the photo exhibition by Dutch Architecture Photographers (DAPh) and the project exhibition by World-architects.com.
With over one hundred and sixty exhibitors, Architect@Work is one of the largest trade events for architects and designers in the Netherlands. The unique concept of Architect@Work is used throughout Europe with great success and is organised in the Netherlands alternately in Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
Architect@Work Netherlands practical
Architect@Work will take place on 27 and 28 September at Taets on the Hembrug site in Zaandam, both days from 11am to 7pm. For more information, visit our website.
Free registration lectures
The lectures at Architect@Work are free to attend. Do register in advance via this link.
