The former ING-bank headquarters designed by Alberts & van Huut will be transformed from mono functional offices into a mixed use building. This requires a set of new functions implemented in the existing plan. Together with LOLA landscape architects Living Landscapes will work on the follop up of the design of the new and existing gardens.  These gardens which will be designed as ‘sand gardens’ with a rich ecology, a broad range of customised functions and an art-concept implemented over multiple layers of the building.

Habitatelement ‘A Cake For Biodiversity’ will be on show at Droog Design Amsterdam from September 24th till January 12th. This work, created at Sundaymorning@ekwc, proclaims new ways for humans to become part of the natural world and creates understanding about the life of small species. The design is part of the exhibition The World As We Don’t Know It, A New Bond Between Human And Earth Curated by Renny Ramakers.    

Living Landscapes is selected for the Young Innovators Program of the board of government advisors (atelier Rijksbouwmeesters). We will work on a strategy for 1000 ha of new forest for the province of South Holland.  

Deltascapes (Anne Nieuwenhuijs), Living Landscapes (Mirte van Laarhoven) and NETICS (Eldert Besseling, Ewoud Volbeda) are selected for the start-up phase of Prachtige Productielandschappen, a program launched by Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie. During the coming months we will develop a plan on the different opportunities of dredge, for delta landscapes in transition.  

From April till June Mirte van Laarhoven will be part of the Sundaymorning@ekwc residency program. She will develop a series of habitat elements. Functional sculptures to live in or on. These elements will consist out of tree trunks with a ceramic topping.  

    Short video portrait about my work, as part of the talent development program by Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie. ‘I suggest small interventions which influence systems on a large scale. Those small interventions not only make the landscape more accessible for human visits, but also stimulate biodiversity.’  

Yesterday the book Zo kan het ook, by Jaco Appelman, Mireille Langendijk and Anoek van der Leest is launched. A positive story about how we can align our systems better with our planet, by taking natures examples as an inspiration. Click to read Living Landscapes contribution to the publication.  

The project ‘Frozen Forest’ is selected for the final competition phase. Coming weeks we will bring our design for a Biesbosch inspired installation a step further, as part of the Baanhoekweg Art competition in Dordrecht. Frozen Forest is a collaboration between Living Landscapes and Bruno Vermeersch.

What will the Netherlands look like in 100 years? Climate change, a rising sea level and more water coming down our rivers force us to continuously implement more innovative ways to deal with water. This graphic article shares different examples of projects that are already shaping the resilient future of the Nederlands. Article by Jorris Verboon, assigned by newspaper FD

The project ‘Groene Regenpijp’ is selected for the second phase of the stipendia program ‘Fresh Perspectives‘ of the Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie. This product will function as a climate adaptive rainwater solution on urban facades.

Living Landscapes received a talent development grand from Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie. During a year to come Mirte will continue her work on a ‘land-shaping’ design method. 

A research commissioned by the board of government advisors, carried out by Architectuur Lokaal, knowledge centre in the building sector. Mirte van Laarhoven was interviewed to share her experience, together with eight other up and coming (landscape)architects. “In four years I was able to give specific directions to my preferred field of work by the combination of work and study.”

Underwater Forest on show in the tv series Stroom. This episode of Stroom, produced by RTV Rijnmond, reports on the near future of the Haringvliet. This includes a new man made island an an Underwater forest.

A forest on the bottom of the river. Is this possible? Together with NL Delta Mirte van Laarhoven will turn her design proposal into practice in the Haringvliet.

How to utilise the forces of currents to shape an Underwater Forest. A group of dead trees will be anchored underwater, this will evolve over time into a natural, biodiversity reef.

Minister of Agriculture and Deputy Prime Minister Carola Schouten visited National Park De Biesbosch. She made a boat trip through the nature area, together with the winner of the NLDelta Challenge, Mirte van Laarhoven, and forester Jacques van der Neut. Mirte had a conversation with the Minister on improving the underwater ecosystem by introducing ‘Underwater Forests’.

‘Stromende Kracht’ received an honourable mention during Archiprix 2018

Mirte’s graduation project Stromende Kracht was awarded an honourable mention during Archiprix 2018.

Mirte’s proposal Retract, Replete was part of the jury’s top 12 for the Prix de Rome 2018.