Embassy of Water: Channeling Change at DDW23
In the bustling heart of the Dutch Design Week (#DDW23), an unusual yet captivating entity made its presence felt. The Embassy of Water, not your typical Embassy, presented a revolutionary idea — buildings that dance to the tune of water's natural rhythms. Imagine structures designed not as barriers but as harmonious partners to water's whimsical flow. This concept isn't just imaginative; it's imperative. Leading this aquatic renaissance is Anouk van der Poll, the creative powerhouse behind the Embassy of Water.
Photo by: Boudewijn Bollmann
Since the start in 2018, the Embassy has been on a mission to rewrite our relationship with water. The recent water excesses were not just climatic anomalies; they were wake-up calls. During DDW23, the Embassy unfurled its vision: buildings as collective, natural purification systems. Imagine borrowing water from nature and returning it not just cleaner but revitalized. This isn't a distant utopia; it's a blueprint for a sustainable future, showcased in a water pavilion on Stadhuisplein in Eindhoven.
Decentralized Water Purification: The Future Unveiled
Van der Poll's eureka moment sprang from dialogues with developers around Stadhuisplein. The idea? To decentralize water treatment for the Designhuis in Eindhoven. This isn't just about purifying water; it's about reimagining how we interact with it. Studio Corvers, a design studio at the crossroads of design and architecture, was tasked with translating this vision into a tangible pavilion. Van der Poll's brief was not just a document; it was a collage of inspiration — a 75-page book and a wall dotted with pictures and post-its.
Yet, Studio Corvers encountered a curious hurdle. In their conversations about regenerative housing and life-centred design, they uncovered a widespread need for more awareness about our water systems. This insight prompted Van der Poll to recalibrate her strategy. Though her primary goal was to inspire and instil hope, she acknowledged the necessity first to unveil the realities of our existing water system. This realization gave birth to a dedicated area within the glass greenhouse, allowing visitors to dive into the story of our water systems - an immersive narrative crafted to be more than just a display but a genuinely experiential journey.
Photo by: Boudewijn Bollmann
Photo by: Boudewijn Bollmann
Connecting the Past, Present, and Future
The pavilion isn't just about showcasing new ideas; it's a celebration of the Embassy's five-year journey. Visitors can witness works from previous exhibitions, like the Mensput-Wensput (Human Well Wishing Well) by Fides Lapidaire and Axel Coumans, which explores water's desires. Additionally, the collection features new work by photographer Dieuwke van den Heuvel, whose fascination with glaciers leads us to ponder the implications of their disappearance.
Visualizations by the Eindhoven architectural firm Mulderendevries add another layer, urging visitors to see that change isn't just possible; it's already happening. This exhibition isn't just a display; it's an invitation to engage in a dialogue, to ponder what water itself might think of our actions.
The Voice of Water: From Concept to Reality
In its early days, giving water a voice seemed novel, even perplexing. But as Van der Poll notes, this idea is no longer met with surprise. Over the years, the Embassy has collaborated with experts like water researcher Cees Kamp and natural philosopher Matthijs Schouten, who held a press conference as the 'voice of water'. These collaborations have played a pivotal role in shifting perceptions.
Understanding that change takes time, the Embassy has developed a toolkit for engaging with construction companies. This toolkit isn't just a set of instructions; it's a guided journey to understand water's perspective. Van der Poll shares an anecdote about a session with the Dura Vermeer construction company, where participants engaged in conversations with water, leading to profound revelations.
One such revelation occurred during an exercise where participants listed their priorities alongside water's. A participant wrote 'protection', mirroring water's priority. Initially, this seemed like alignment, but as the conversation unfolded, it became clear that their protection ideas were worlds apart. This moment encapsulates the essence of the Embassy's mission — to foster a deeper understanding and respect for water's needs.
Photo by: Boudewijn Bollmann
Small Steps, Big Impact
The Embassy's vision is gaining traction beyond design circles. Politically, water and soil are now central to spatial planning decisions in the Netherlands. Van der Poll recalls a statement by Mark Harbers, the then Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Netherlands, about listening to the Spaarne River. These small steps, these shifts in perspective, are what the Embassy cherishes.
Van der Poll herself embodies this change. Last year, she installed a rainwater tank at her new home, allowing her to flush her toilet with rainwater. It's a small action, but it symbolises the larger transformation she envisions.
As we cross the midpoint of our exploration, it becomes evident that the Embassy of Water is not merely proposing an alternate design philosophy; it is championing a transformative shift in our relationship with one of Earth's most vital elements. In the future, we will further explore implications of these innovative ideas and examine how they can weave into the fabric of our daily existence, transforming our urban landscapes and communities into symphonies that resonate in tune with water.
Thank you Anouk van der Poll!
