Future Naturbyen - EFFEKT to Present Nature Village

Copenhagen-based studio EFFEKT has presented plans for a residential development that forms part of its contribution to the upcoming venice architecture biennale. titled ‘naturbyen’, a name that translates as ‘nature village’, the project will see a field in denmark transformed into a completely new forest-neighborhood district comprising more than 200 homes. the development seeks to demonstrate how sustainable housing development can be combined with ambitious afforestation, increased biodiversity, and circular resource thinking.
‘as humanity is facing its greatest challenge ever with the imminent threat of climate change, habitat loss and depletion of natural resources - not to mention the ongoing pandemic - we need to rethink the way we live together on this planet. not only as humans, but across all species and ecosystems,’ EFFEKT tells designboom, discussing how the project responds to the biennale’s theme - ‘how will we live together?’.
Responding to denmark’s goal of covering 20% of its landmass with forest by 2100, EFFEKT developed the project in collaboration with the town of middelfart. the site, currently an agricultural field, will be densely planted with a mix of native tree seedlings - an approach based on interviews and insight from industry experts, anders busse nielsen and björn wiström. ‘with a project like ‘naturbyen’ we try to address the growing need for more housing while also restoring natural habitats in close proximity to our cities, increasing biodiversity and through afforestation sequester carbon over time,’ EFFEKT explains.

[@pulangkampung5421]

Sehat selalu warga Belanda, salam dari Kampung Naga - Indonesia

[@Xiaguang_zi]

💚💚💚💚

[@pcongre]

So "to combat sprawl... we propose sprawl"? (Or did I misunderstand the message here, somehow?)

[@dpo1768]

I get what you mean, with taking empty land and developing it. I think the problem they were trying to solve with this is non-sustainable sprawl. Most urban sprawl just plows through forests and animal ecosystems and are powered by fossil fuels. These homes are powered with clean energy and creates an ecosystem. It’s degraded farmland, so wildlife is getting nothing out of right now, but once the forest grows, it will. So this is sprawl, but it’s good sprawl.

[@pcongre]

@@dpo1768 Isn't sprawl bad by definition? How are they going to address the rest of its negative consequences, is what I mean

[@dpo1768]

@@pcongreWell they said urban sprawl is bad, and they specifically say anything like “we propose sprawl.” Environmentally urban sprawl by definition is bad, and this project solves that problem. Transportation and social problems don’t appear to be for me.