Exhibition EndLESS Amterdam
Amsterdam will be a circular city. In April 2020, the mayor and a group of lawmakers endorsed the strategy for Circular Amsterdam 2020–2025. This plan lays out how, over the next five years, initial steps will be taken towards a significant reduction in the use of new raw and other materials.
To shape this plan, the municipality is using a version of the ‘Doughnut model’, developed by British economist Kate Raworth, which has been specially developed for the city. This model describes how societies and businesses can contribute to economic development that is respectful of both the limitations of the planet and a fair society. Its aim is to reduce the use of new raw materials by half in Amsterdam by 2030 and to achieve a fully circular economy by 2050.
The decision drew Amsterdam global attention as being ‘the world's first Doughnut City’. Many other cities are now approaching Kate Raworth in order to develop their own strategies. Expectations are also high in Amsterdam. What does the transition to a circular economy mean for its residents, businesses, and flora and fauna? Can urban growth be sustainable? And how do we see this reflected in the built environment?
The doughnut house
The walls of this “doughnut house” feature inspirational quotes from Kate Raworth’s book “Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Thinks Like a 21st-century Economist”. Raworth is a British economist and the founder of the doughnut economy. In her book, she describes in seven steps how the current economy can change drastically. When dark, the letters on the roof reflect on it's surroundings and beam the principles of a circular world. Written in Dutch and English people can wander around it, read the quotes or take a peak inside.
The house was part of the Arcam exhibition EndLESS Amsterdam, which showed (among other things) the circular strategy of Amsterdam. The house consists of joints all made of wood and follows the principle of 'losmaakbaarheid': releasability. This principle is key for sustainable building of new developments. This house itself is made of poplar plywood and contains at least 70% PEFC certified wood. PEFC is an independent quality mark that promotes sustainable forest management. This certificate ensures that the poplar forests in Europe are preserved.
The exhibition will soon come to an end. To stay in line with the circular idea of the exhibition, we would love to loan the house to a Doughnut initiative in Amsterdam or even in Europe. So the piece can be used for a wider audience.
