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17-25 October 2026

The Embassy of Water

Water Cohabitation

Hosted by Embassy of Water, Designhuis, Stadhuisplein 3

This project is now archived and was part of DDW21

Axel Coumans
In daily life we are in constant contact with water. It is self-evident, but after a visit to the Embassy of Water you will not take water for granted again. Be amazed by a new perspective on water.

Water cohabitation: how we live together with water

The Embassy of Water places humans back into the natural water ecosystem and shows that the water transition is more than water retention, slowing it down and infiltrating. We investigate how architecture and design can help us give water a central, respectable role at the heart of society. We change the way we deal with water: from a product to a living element with which we learn to cohabit again. If we want to make a better world for ourselves and all living beings, we need to rethink our relationship with water. We play an important role in the functioning of a healthy ecosystem. Let's become part of the water system again through the way water flows through our bodies, our homes and our society. Our water use is a small cycle within the large water cycle, whereby we no longer disturb the natural cycle but maintain a dynamic balance. We do not control an ecosystem (for humans), but the opposite: we serve the natural ecosystem. We support, strengthen and form a society with water. We design our water consumption and our water friendly home in a way that does not burden existing natural systems. We interact consciously and sparingly with our high quality water sources.

Hosted by

Embassy of Water, Designhuis, Stadhuisplein 3
[email protected]
+31 6 14794595
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About Embassy of Water, Designhuis, Stadhuisplein 3

The Embassy of Water is an open platform for water innovation, initiated by designer Anouk van der Poll. Here, the De Dommel waterboard, drinking water company Brabant Water, the province of Noord-Brabant, the municipality of Eindhoven and the Dutch Design Foundation work together with designers on joint water projects, in the conviction that designers offer new perspectives and concrete solutions. With the best interest of water at heart.

Colofon

Initiator en curator Embassy of Water Anouk van der Poll
Manager Strategie, Beleid & Innovatie Watersysteem – Waterschap De Dommel Joost van der Cruijsen
Beleidsmedewerker Water en klimaatadaptatie – Provincie Noord-Brabant Karla Niggebrugge
Adviseur water en klimaat – Gemeente Eindhoven Hans van Oosterwijk
Adviseur innovatie - waterschap De Dommel Conny van Rooij
Strategisch omgevingsmanager - Brabant Water Arjan de Vries
Stem van Water Matthijs Schouten
Designer Fides Lapidaire
Designer Axel Coumans
Tekst en sparringpartner - Inkt & Aarde Marjolein Bezemer

Partners

Sponsored by The Embassy of Water
Sponsored by The Embassy of Water
Sponsored by The Embassy of Water
Sponsored by The Embassy of Water
Sponsored by The Embassy of Water
Sponsored by The Embassy of Water