Open Call Collective Knowledge Creation in Architecture – 10 projects selected

6 January 2024

With the Open Call Collective Knowledge Creation in Architecture, the Creative Industries Fund NL would like to encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration between small architectural practices. The call is aimed at independent designers and small agencies that want to share and strengthen their knowledge and expertise on social issues.

general impression

The selected projects show a strong focus on topical themes such as sustainability, climate adaptation and social inclusiveness. The committee particularly appreciates how young agencies with strong content qualities are finding each other in innovative collaborations. The projects range from research into sustainable building materials and circular techniques to participatory design methods and climate-resilient area development. What is striking is how the collaborating agencies complement each other by bringing together different areas of expertise.

selection

A few notable projects in this round were:

LMNL office & Anna Zań – New Age of Stone
Natural stone is a versatile, strong and reusable material with a long lifespan. Unlike brick, concrete and metal, stone basically has no carbon footprint. New Age of Stone investigates whether stone can be scaled up as a sustainable alternative to concrete and brick in the Netherlands. For 11 months, Anna Zań and LMNL are gathering knowledge in the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK and France. Through desk research, expert interviews, technical research and mock-ups, the possibilities of utilising stone in architecture are explored. The insights will be summarised for architects and builders.

Studio HA & Jasper Smits Architecten – Rechtvaardige energietransitie
StudioHA and Jasper Smits Architecten are investigating making ‘piano houses' in Lelystad Oost more sustainable. The aim is to make poorly insulated homes more sustainable without affecting the spatial quality, to make the energy transition accessible to people with a low income. Through participation meetings with residents, Centrada housing corporation and the municipality of Lelystad, a design is developed in co-creation.

Dérive and Studio Inscape are developing tools for inclusive participation in a series of working sessions. They are building an ‘installation’ that facilitates co-creation and participatory design. The goal is to develop an accessible methodology for both experienced professionals and beginners. The project aims to bridge the gap between design and co-creation to create more inclusive, future-oriented public spaces.

all projects

• B9 & Studio ACTE – Aarde Lab: Collective Knowledge in Earth Construction
• BREM landschap & De Onkruidenier – Zoet leven / Zilte lens
• Dérive & Studio Inscape – Vorm-geven aan co-creëren
• Inge Kersten Landschapsarchitect & Raumkultur – The orange zone: een gezamenlijk thuis voor ouderen
• LMNL office & Anna Zań – New Age of Stone
• Neder|land|schap & Atelier voor Water & Landschap – Waterontwerpkaart tussen Berkel en Regge
• OBSCURA & el KANTOOR – Ondergrond inzicht
• Pierre Oskam & Tanja Lina – Atelier voor Regeneratieve Ontwerpkracht
• Studio Alexander Beeloo & Cosmos Landschap – Biobased op Boerenland
• Studio HA & Jasper Smits Architecten – Rechtvaardige energietransitie

assessment

All the applications received were submitted to an independent advisory committee consisting of Oana Bogdan, Zico Lopes and Ingeborg Thoral. This committee considered and assessed the submitted proposals based on three criteria:

• the design and content quality of the applicants and the proposal
• the relevance and positioning of the identified practice issues and proposed collaboration
• the effectiveness of the proposal in terms of its structure, methodology and intended result

numbers

For this first edition of the open call, a total budget of € 240,000 was available. Of the 19 proposals submitted, 10 were awarded grants of € 20,000 each. This brings the percentage of applications being awarded grants to 53%. A total of € 200,000 was awarded.

Banner image: Pierre Oskam & Tanja Lina – Atelier voor Regeneratieve Ontwerpkracht