Tuesday, June 28, 2016

About the Dutch cyclepaths

The unique Dutch cycling culture and Netherland's extensive network of cyclepaths are rooted in the oil crisis of the 70's, a high number of bike accidents and citizens rallying for less motorized cities.



Saturday, June 25, 2016

R'dam - Port of 2050

Port of Rotterdam has a goal to become a 100% sustainable port cluster by 2050. On its way to ‘circular port economy’ it will start gradually capturing and streaming CO2 emissions to regional greenhouses (CO2 accelerates plants' growth). The Port is also offering docking discounts to vessels using clean fuels (e.g. LPG). Being a massive oil refinary PoR is planning to swap fossil feedstocks with vegetable products (sugar beets for instance) to further reduce it carbon footprint.

[more >here<]


Saturday, June 18, 2016

Amersfoort

Amersfoort is a medieval city famous for its Koopelpoort gate (awarded the Europa Nostra Award in 1992) nicknamed Keistad (boulder-city). 
Legend has it that in 1661 400 people had to drag a 9-tonne boulder from the moors to the city after their landlord lost a bet to another landlord. Since then citizens of Amersfoort have been taunted as Keientrekkers (boulder-draggers). The boulder is nowdays in public display.


Van Nelle Fabriek

Previously a tea, coffee & tobacco factory. Designed by archiect Van der Vlugt with pioneering ergonomics in mind and use of ample natural light for the workers. Famous architect Le Corbusier decribed the factory as "the most beautiful spectacle of the modern age" back in the 30's. Nowdays the factory is renamed Van Nelle Design Factory and hosts businesses in the creative sector.  


A History of the World's Most Liberal City

A book by Russell Shorto about the world's cradle of liberalism and godfather city of New York . Available in Kindle format for 8 euros.


Saturday, June 11, 2016

Off-grid neighborhood in Almere

A closed loop community is currently under development by ReGenVillages  in Almere, a town near Amsterdam.  
Food-energy-waste will all be components of a closed recycling loop. The Port of Rotterdam has similar circular economy plans to supply regional greenhouses with its CO2 emissions (CO2 helps crops grow faster).  
[more >here<]





Saturday, June 4, 2016

Loving Vincent

It took 100 artists to hand paint this movie for Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. It's the world's first painted animation feature. The movie was "painted" in Gdansk (PL).
To be released this year.