AIR kicks off the first edition of a new innovation festival this afternoon at the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship in Rotterdam’s Merwe-Vierhavens. The festival examines the link between architecture and green technology in its central focus, and also further divides into three themes: urban living, ecological building renovations, and new building design. The goal of AIR is that this festival will help to further develop, and accelerate good ideas into real design innovations.

Programme:

14.15 – 15.00 Reading from guest innovator Petra Blaisse

“From good idea to product innovation, learning from energy generating textile through Inside Outside.”

15.30 – 17.00 Break-out sessions

“Three innovative practices, learning from new concepts, technologies and typologies.”

• Tech & Type

Speakers include:

– Duzan Doepel (DoepelStrijkers) & Lennart Graaff (BLOC) on the development of the Dutch Windwheel

– Vincent van der Meulen (Kraaijvanger) & Michel Weijers (C2C Expolab Venlo) on the Cradle to cradle municipal office

– Gerjan Streng & Ingrid van der Heijden (The Cloud Collective) & Caroline Prisse (Van Tetterode Glass Studio) on their interactive LED-passage

– Marco Vermeulen (Studio Marco Vermeulen) on designing and building in the Biobased Delta

Moderator: Indira van ‘t Klooster

• Learning from het Timmerhuis

Speakers include:

– Rob van Kalmthout (Heijmans), Alex de Jong (OMA), Kenan Aksular (BMWi) and Robert Winkel (Mei Architecten)

Moderator: Jaap Modder

• Renovation in large numbers

Speakers include:

• Reimar von Meding (Reimarkt/KAW), Jan-Willem van de Groep (Platform31/Energiesprong), Hans van der Heijden (hvdha) and René Scherpenisse (Woningcorporatie Tiwos)

Moderator: Koj Koning

17.00 Reflection

“How do we design and build in the city in an innovative way ? Reflections from the break-out sessions.”

More information on AIR and the innovation festival can be found on their website: www.airfoundation.nl or www.architectuurinnovatierotterdam.nl

Have a great idea? Take that great idea and turn it into a business in 10 weeks- join the Get Started programme! Also don’t forget to sign up for the ECE Congress – Looking Ahead at the ECE Campus on June 11th!