If we want to build a sustainable world, we have to consider the whole system.
Possible Landscapes is a multi-year program, in which, together with stakeholders and knowledge partners, we conduct case-by-case research into new perspectives for a sustainable living environment. We then use stories and imagination to convert those perspectives into model installations that can be used separately, locally to share the story but when combined form an experiential exhibition about what is possible now, tomorrow and in the future. What the landscape in the Netherlands can literally look like, but especially what the associated chains and value systems are.
Possible Landscapes builds on the research and storytelling of The Growing Pavilionand The Exploded View. In these programs the focus is on the possibilities and beauty of biobased materials. With Possible Landscapes we go further and consider the entire system of sustainable construction and living even more explicitly. We investigate what the chain, from land to building, from crop to industry and from ideal to financially fair value system, can look like per area and what this means for the different landscapes of the Netherlands. Research questions are: What are the possible landscapes in the Netherlands if we start building sustainably on a large scale? Where do the raw materials for sustainable materials come from? What are future-proof housing and living concepts? How do we ensure that we do not deplete the soil further, but make it healthy again? Which flora and fauna are most suitable for certain soil types? How do we finance all this and which rules need to be adjusted or instituted first to make this possible?
Cases
In order to make a real impact with our program, we deal with one concrete case at a time. This can be an area (e.g. the Peel) but it can also have a different starting point (e.g. how do we create a biobased school in the region with all local parties). We then invite stakeholders in various co-creation sessions who can explore and devise the case in depth.
We literally put builders, producers, farmers, scientists, designers, naturalists, governments and knowledge institutes at our conversation table and start thinking with them about which new chains can be formed that lead to new perspectives or, as we call it: Possible Landscapes. For each case we create a new table that reflects the current landscape and from which the co-creation sessions can start.
Experiential Exhibition
The results of the sessions, aka the possible landscapes, are always translated into model installations after calculations by our knowledge partners. We make these installations together with various artists and they consist entirely of nature and natural materials. They can travel separately to help tell the story locally. But together they form a large experiential exhibition about the future of the landscape of the Netherlands. What are we going to grow, harvest, process and build where, so that we, nature, the soil, farmers and builders can move towards a sustainable future?
DDW 22
During Dutch Design Week 2022 we will start with the first sessions on the case of De Peel. For 10 days we invite all kinds of stakeholders to come up with possible landscapes. In the following months, we will create model installations based on the selected ideas. These models can travel in De Peel to tell the story and take people along in possible new scenarios.
Help with development?
Do you want to think along about the sustainable living environment of the future through imagination and storytelling? Do you want to work together with other pioneers and reach a wide audience? Join us! You can participate in many ways: with knowledge, with techniques and materials and financially. Please contact Diana van Bokhoven: diana@companynewheroes.com
Concept & Design: Pascal Leboucq & Lucas De Man, Biobased Creations
Possible Landscapes is made possible by:
Building Balance, Brabant C, Provincie Noord-Brabant, Van Gelder infra, Hurks, De Meeuw and Dutch Design Foundation. Together they form with other builders, producers, scientists, designers and policymakers, nature experts, storytellers and artists the Embassy of Circular & Biobased Building.
