PLAY GROUND MADE OUT OF A REUSED WINDMILL

The partners of 2012 Architecten in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, are making surplus superfluous, reusing everything from I-beams, wood floors, car tires, washing machines, stainless steel sinks and even windmill blades as building materials in their creations. 2012 Architect’s work suggests not only a new kind of aesthetic and functionality in sustainable architecture, but also a new approach to
design.

On the 10th of October a playground constructed of 5 wings of a discarded wind turbine will be opened in Rotterdam. Yearly 200 of these turbine wings are thrown away in the Netherlands. The huge hollow tubes are reused as towers and tunnels. The slide tower has two slides and the water tower produces a waterfall. There is a tower block and a watchtower with a F16 fighter jet cockpit on top. The playground is based in one of the Rotterdam neighbourhoods that has been appointed as one of the underprivileged areas of the Netherlands.

The project was funded by the European Union. The URBAN II subsidy funds innovative projects in the field of urban renewal in disadvantaged areas. Also Dutch national and local authorities, private funds, foundations and a company supported the creation of the re-used wind turbine playground.

The recycled food diner is another project that has been introduced by 2012 Architects this year. Three-course dinners cooked with remains of the organic food branch. In the Recycled food Dinner invitation one of the 2012 architects states: 'In general 60% of the produced food is lost on its way to the client. The surplus of the organic food branch is of high quality, especially because the high visual requirements of the client.

The first 70% reused villa, designed by 2012 architects, is now being realized in Enschede, the Netherlands. The first ambition was to use 50 % reused materials. But the contractor got carried away by the concept and introduced so many waste materials that it looks like the result will be about 70 % reuse.

The initial sketch design was made definitive using the measurements of a construction of metal beams that originate from a textile machine. Enschede is in the former textile-industry area of Holland. The facade will be clad with wood from cable reels, which sizes define the rhythm of the facade. All glass-houses have a single glass outer skin made from part of the 10% loss of a glass factory nearby the project. This factory agreed to cut all leftovers to 40 cm wide pieces. The different lengths of the glass will make a lively facade. The villa is to be
finished at the end of 2008.

In December 2007 a crew of five followed 2012Architects for one week, filming their work and interviewing clients and the three partners of the office. The documentary gives a good insight into the drives and ambitions of superuse. The documentary is produced by Design e², 'the economies of being environmentally conscious'.

Design e² is a documentary series that explores the vitality of the environment through eco-friendly architecture. The series is narrated by Brad Pitt and broadcasted by PBS in the United States. The series is an introduction to 'the inventive leaders and technologies driving sustainable practices worldwide in the design of buildings where we live, work, and play.' The ‘Superuse’documentary can be viewed on line at the Design e² site (see: ‘webcasts’, 09.12.2008). see more (Design-e2.com)

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October 6, 2008