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17-25 October 2026

The Butterfly Effect

An ultra-light and innovative web over the motorway that generates renewable energy while restoring natural connective routes.

Hosted by VenhoevenCS, DS, Studio Solarix

This project is now archived and was part of DDW21

Event type

Exhibition

working on smallest scale can create big impact
working on smallest scale can create big impact
VenhoevenCS, DS, Studio Solarix
This proposal offers a helping hand to small-scale ecosystems and in so doing contributes to a large-scale approach to climate change and biodiversity loss. The web can easily be applied to other sites to become an important part of the sustainability of infrastructure projects globally.

Sustainability as a source of design

The team has jointly used their expertise, drive and creativity to develop a design for a sustainable future. They believe that designs aimed at tackling climate change and biodiversity loss should be nature-inclusive. They chose insects as the starting point for the project as working on the smallest scale can create the biggest impact. Insects are the biological foundation for all ecosystems and an essential link in the food chain. Building a treetop-level crossing for insects can help to restore important natural connective routes. The ‘web over the motorway’ offers a huge surface area on which to generate renewable energy. Thanks to its honeycomb structure, the lightweight crossing can be filled with materials that generate solar energy. The web is modular and can grow in line with technical innovations. Thanks to the double use of space less of the landscape needs to be set aside for solar panels, creating space for biodiversity and food production instead. The Butterfly Effect demonstrates sustainability as a source of design: techniques and esthetics are fully integrated to create an harmonious attractive design. Eye-catching shadow patterns create a unique experience.
Eye-catching shadow patterns: a unique experience
Eye-catching shadow patterns: a unique experience
VenhoevenCS, DS, Studio Solarix
The Butterfly Effect: a web over the motorway
The Butterfly Effect: a web over the motorway
VenhoevenCS, DS, Studio Solarix

About VenhoevenCS, DS, Studio Solarix

VenhoevenCS is an innovative bureau for sustainable architecture, urban development and infrastructure, specialized in finding integral, spatial solutions for societal and environmental issues. Now working on the sustainable swimming stadium for the Olympics 2024 in Paris. DS is an office for landscape design and research, with a focus on biodiversity. Studio Solarix was winner of the Solar Design Challenge of the DDW in 2017. They design and produce energy generating facades.

Colofon

Architectural design VenhoevenCS architecture+urbanism
Landscape design and nature-inclusive design DS Landschapsarchitecten
Product design Studio Solarix

Partners

Sponsored by The Butterfly Effect
Sponsored by The Butterfly Effect
Sponsored by The Butterfly Effect

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