Scaling up Biobased Construction

Program

Biobased construction employs renewable materials in a circular economy, transforming the building sector from carbon-emitting to carbon-storing, while creating new opportunities for agriculture. ‘Scaling up Biobased Construction’ explores how this can be applied to larger projects in cities like Eindhoven and Paris. Using different and locally produced materials is crucial for transitioning towards sustainable futures.

Marco Vermeulen will present two of his recent projects in Eindhoven: the high-rise timber project ‘Dutch Mountains’ and Netherlands' first biobased museum, VONK. Christina Eickmeier and Emma Diehl will discuss Paris' shift towards biobased construction over the past decade.

The event is organized in collaboration with the International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR) and the Built by Nature fund, and will be moderated by Dr. Ing. Peter Fraanje, an expert in biobased building materials and NL Networks Lead at Built by Nature.

Spoken language: Dutch & English

10:30 AM – Doors open
11:00 AM – Program starts
12:30 PM – Program ends, followed by networking lunch

Limited to 30 participants. Lunch included.
RSVP via registration button.

Marco Vermeulen

At the Dutch Design Week 2019, Studio Marco Vermeulen constructed the Biobasecamp, a pavilion that embodies the contribution of ‘building with trees’ to reducing CO2 emissions and nitrogen levels by replacing conventional building materials with wood. The VPRO broadcast ‘Houtbouwers’ from the same year, featuring interviews with Marco Vermeulen and others, brought the benefits of wooden construction to a wider audience.

Meanwhile, the architecture firm is working on two ambitious projects in Eindhoven: The Dutch Mountains, located just a stone's throw from Eindhoven Central Station, serve as an iconic example of large-scale biobased construction. With two towers measuring 133m and 96m, and a total area of approximately 65,000 m², this will be the largest hybrid wooden building in the world.

VONK is the first museum building in the Netherlands to utilize biobased materials and sustainable techniques on a large scale and in diverse ways. The green rooftop garden, supported by an impressive wooden structure and exterior walls made of hempcrete, makes the building resemble a slice of the landscape rising above the ground.

Christina Eickmeier & Emma Diehl

The Paris Biobased research project, led by architect Christina Eickmeier, co-founder of CHRITH Architects, and landscape architect and researcher Emma Diehl, highlights the efforts of the French government, construction industry, and architects to promote the use of low-carbon materials, in particular timber, straw, hempcrete and raw earth.

France is currently at the forefront of biobased building. In recent years, the country has promoted a strong vision with national environmental legislation that encourages ‘low-carbon’ construction and policies that stimulate the use of biobased materials in public procurement. As the city of the 'Paris Agreement,' Paris stands out as a leader in this movement. By showcasing successful examples in the Paris region, the research project offers a broad view of transitioning practices.

What can we learn from Grand Paris? What lessons can we draw from the French experience for the Netherlands and beyond? What are the driving factors, how does it align with current initiatives in the Netherlands, and how can we accelerate the upscaling of timber and biobased building?