Architects design buildings. At least that’s what they were known to do. But some architects have pulled down the walls between their own domain and the world around them. And they have great ideas on marketing, on art, and also on energy on a Pan European level.
In 2009 Gorbachov declared: ‘Tear down this wall and save the planet.’ He was encouraging people to go beyond national interest and vested economic interest, to come together and simply address a problem that transcends the size of the nation on a scale that transcends the size of the nation.
OMA partner Reinier de Graaf did just that and contributed to Roadmap 2050, an initiative of the European Climate Foundation. Roadmap 2050 developed a model for sustainable energy sources that also includes Northern Africa. De Graaf explains. ‘Europe is more than just a lot of countries and landscapes. Europe also has an enormously diverse climate. This makes it the perfect territory to capitalize on renewable energy sources in a situation of mutual benefit. For example: In summer, the windy north can profit from the sunny south, and in the winter the sunny south can profit from the windy north. The complementarities are not just limited to wind.
We have labeled this system Eneropa. Eneropa is a visionary concept of a very possible European future in which regions do not derive their identity from their culture, but from their main source of renewable energy.’
As Partner of OMA Reinier de Graaf is responsible for a number of projects in Europe and the Middle East. His work includes the redevelopment of the Commonwealth Institute site in London, ‘De Rotterdam’, the largest building in the Netherlands, the masterplan for the White City area of London and the harbour redevelopment in Rigaand Waterfront City in Dubai.
In 2002 Reinier de Graaf became a director for AMO, the think tank of OMA. AMO applies architectural thinking to issues and opportunities beyond the conventional borders of architecture and urbanism. While OMA is dedicated to the realization of buildings and master plans, AMO operates in fields including sociology, technology, media and politics. Notable AMO projects are Zeekracht; a masterplan for a renewable energy infrastructure in the North Sea. The Barcode; an alternative flag for the European Union and a conceptual study for the off-shore relocation of Schiphol Airport. Currently AMO is working for the Hermitage Museum, Strelka; a new postgraduate school for media, architecture and design in Moscow,and for fashion house Prada. In addition it is engaged in studies for the European Union and various OMA projects.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxRotterdam, where x = independently organized TED event. More »
Reinier de Graaf
Partner OMA & Director OMA
Architecture and energy
Architects design buildings. At least that’s what they were known to do. But some architects have pulled down the walls between their own domain and the world around them. And they have great ideas on marketing, on art, and also on energy on a Pan European level.
In 2009 Gorbachov declared: ‘Tear down this wall and save the planet.’ He was encouraging people to go beyond national interest and vested economic interest, to come together and simply address a problem that transcends the size of the nation on a scale that transcends the size of the nation.
OMA partner Reinier de Graaf did just that and contributed to Roadmap 2050, an initiative of the European Climate Foundation. Roadmap 2050 developed a model for sustainable energy sources that also includes Northern Africa. De Graaf explains. ‘Europe is more than just a lot of countries and landscapes. Europe also has an enormously diverse climate. This makes it the perfect territory to capitalize on renewable energy sources in a situation of mutual benefit. For example: In summer, the windy north can profit from the sunny south, and in the winter the sunny south can profit from the windy north. The complementarities are not just limited to wind.
We have labeled this system Eneropa. Eneropa is a visionary concept of a very possible European future in which regions do not derive their identity from their culture, but from their main source of renewable energy.’
As Partner of OMA Reinier de Graaf is responsible for a number of projects in Europe and the Middle East. His work includes the redevelopment of the Commonwealth Institute site in London, ‘De Rotterdam’, the largest building in the Netherlands, the masterplan for the White City area of London and the harbour redevelopment in Rigaand Waterfront City in Dubai.
In 2002 Reinier de Graaf became a director for AMO, the think tank of OMA. AMO applies architectural thinking to issues and opportunities beyond the conventional borders of architecture and urbanism. While OMA is dedicated to the realization of buildings and master plans, AMO operates in fields including sociology, technology, media and politics. Notable AMO projects are Zeekracht; a masterplan for a renewable energy infrastructure in the North Sea. The Barcode; an alternative flag for the European Union and a conceptual study for the off-shore relocation of Schiphol Airport. Currently AMO is working for the Hermitage Museum, Strelka; a new postgraduate school for media, architecture and design in Moscow,and for fashion house Prada. In addition it is engaged in studies for the European Union and various OMA projects.
www.oma.eu
www.oma.eu