Test location in Arnhem; implementation November 2024.
Rethink materials is Omlabs approach. And now it’s also the name of a consortium. This chain initiative aims to radically strenghten (infra)nature in a biocircular manner. With concrete where necessary, and biodegradable where possible.
How? With various circular biobank tiles and their industrial scale-up.
This perspective is part of Dutch Design Week 2024 at 2 locations.
Partners:
- Omlab (initiator)
- Green Village Delft
- Soil Vision
- Bouwlab | Neolithic 3D
- in close co-op with water autority Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier (HHNK) and Van Gelder.
- Supervision: Noorderwind, Rotterdam.
Ecosystem services of Biostack. Illustration by Biobased Creations, 2024.
Why
The construction industry is responsible for a quarter of all waste in the Netherlands. In addition, the industry often relies on materials that deplete scarce resources, such as concrete, or on products that are harmful to nature, like chemical coatings.
As a result, biodiversity in the Netherlands has been declining for a century, with current levels only 15% of what they once were.
Biostack (2024)
Omlab created a nature-positive material prototype that can be 3D printed into building blocks and tiles.
The low emission material consists of 100% biocircular raw materials from construction, (waste) water and waste paper: lime, sand, cellulose, alginate and Kaumera. Material mixes can be tailored for each soil type.
Together with the consortium, Omlab intends to implement, further test and industrially scale-up the technique for more nature friendly applications.
Hex (2022)
Biomerge (2024)
Specs
Circular colour mixtures with sand, aquafer, brick, gypsum and more.
Want to contribute?
For co-operation in research or info about soil specific erosion protection, please contact Margreet van Uffelen, founder Omlab.
Rethink materials for (infra)nature is a follow up of the co-operation of Omlab in the consortium ‘Biotalud’ with municipality Arnhem, Van Gelder and Morssinkhof Groep to help develop and implement a biodegradable slope tile.
Co-design
Design by research was executed in co-operation:
- Biostack, 2024: co-design Omlab x Frederik Pufe
- Biomerge, 2024: co-design Omlab x Frederik Pufe
- Germination test, 2023-2024: Floris Joop & Benedict Jansen
- Soil analyses & printing material soil enhancement: Benedict Jansen
- Hex prototype, 2022: co-design Omlab x Juul van den Heuvel
- 3D-printing for DDW24: Dominique de Mooij, Ruben Laus
