Cleaning and Regreening – transforming a polluted industrial plot into a circular green hotspot

DeCeuvel
Publicado: 17 Noviembre 2021
Última edición: 17 Noviembre 2021
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Summary

In 2012, a group of architects decided to transform a polluted and deserted shipyard in the North of Amsterdam into a creative co-working space called `De Ceuvel`. To restore the polluted soil of De Ceuvel, phytoremediation methods were implemented. The full area is cultivated with plants that absorb or stabilize soil pollution. Through community-driven development, the site opted for a sustainable building approach by investing in a solar-powered heating and airconditioning system and compost toilets. The system at De Ceuvel is fully circular, wastewater is purified through bio-filters, and nutrients are re-used for the production of food. Old houseboats were given a second life to provide 17 sustainable ateliers for entrepreneurs and artists. A wooden deck connects the ateliers to protect the restorative ecosystem, and limit the contact of visitors with the polluted soil. After 10 years of use, the site will be returned to the Amsterdam municipality, cleaner and richer than ever before.

Clasificaciones

Region
Europa Occidental y del Sur
Norte de Europa
Scale of implementation
Local
Ecosystem
Buildings and facilities
Connective infrastructure, networks and corridors
Ecosistema urbano
Áreas verdes (parques, jardines, bosque urbano)
Theme
Acceso y participación en los beneficios
Actores locales
Ciudades e infraestructuras
Contaminación
Cultura
Gestión de residuos
Mantenimiento de infraestructura
Medios de vida sostenibles
Planificaión urbana
Restauracion
Salud y bienestar humano
Servicios ecosistémicos
Turismo
Urban and Disaster Risk Management
Sustainable urban infrastructure and services
Challenges
Pérdida de ecosistemas
Contaminación (incluida la eutrofización y la basura)
Desarrollo de Infraestructura
Sustainable development goals
ODS 3 - Salud y bienestar
ODS 7 - Energía asequible y no contaminante
ODS 8 - Trabajo decente y crecimiento económico
ODS 9 - Industria, innovacióne e infraestructura
ODS 11 - Ciudades y comunidades sostenibles
ODS 12 - Producción y consumo responsables
ODS 15 - Vida de ecosistemas terrestres
Aichi targets
Meta 1: Aumento de la sensibilization sobre la biodiversidad
Meta 4: Producción y consumo sostenibles
Meta 7: Agricultura, acuicultura y silvicultura
Meta 8: Reducción de la contaminación
Meta 14: Los servicios ecosistemicos
Meta 15: Restauración de ecosistemas y resiliencia
Meta 19: Intercambio de información y conocimiento

Ubicación

Korte Papaverweg 4, 1032 KB Amsterdam, Netherlands

Impacts

De Ceuvel is a great example for cities dealing with limited space for sustainable development. Municipalities are often restricted by the financial or environmental cost of restoring polluted areas. With the implementation of phytoremediation, this project demonstrated that alternatives are available to replace costly and often unsustainable soil-purification methods (usually hiding or replacing the polluted soil).

 

The project has shown real potential for reducing the use of resources and building materials, waste, and emissions. De Ceuvel currently uses 75% less water compared to similar offices. Additionally, an estimation of 600 tonnes of construction material was conserved and over 200.000 tonnes of CO2 emissions will be saved during the build and 10-year use of the site.

 

The site has shown that community-driven urban development has the potential to transform seemingly 'useless' plots of land through creativity and innovation. De Ceuvel is visited by local residents, tourists and people interested in learning about the circular system, providing them with a green communal space. It provides a testing ground for clean technologies in former industrial areas and has set an example on how cities can transform from large-scale waste producers into sustainable circular hubs that improve their natural environment rather than harm it.

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Eline van Remortel Earthwatch Europe