LIVING WATERSCAPES
Eleven Belgian and international young creatives with different backgrounds and expertise came together to reimagine the future of urban waterscapes in Kortrijk.
The educational program was created following closel the structure of a design sprint and with an explicit hands-on vocation, whilst focusing on a contemporary pressing issue.
The whole cohort was supported across the duration of the projec by coaches helping them to develop their ideas and to present them. Moreover, throughout the week, the participants attended a series of
inspirational presentations from local innovators and thinkers to broaden their horizons. All the participants had access to state of the art workshops and fablabs to complete their creations the Industrial Design Center [Howest], the Maaklab [VIVES Hogeschool] and the BUDA::Lab.
Each participant was assigned to a group following a theme.
Each group worked closely with a network of partners who have expertise in the themes tackled and are looking for outside the box interventions. The participants worked together in teams to create three projects that analysed the complex and systematic challenges they were being confronted with. Their elaborations speculatively intervened on the territory, but you might see them soon realized in
your surroundings... The ultimate goal of this experience, which was achieved successfully, waas to strengthen the links between different creative and entrepreneurial communities in the territory of Kortrijk and to initiate an international network of young practitioners that work on geography-specific issues through design thinking and different creative approaches.
The educational program was created following closel the structure of a design sprint and with an explicit hands-on vocation, whilst focusing on a contemporary pressing issue.
The whole cohort was supported across the duration of the projec by coaches helping them to develop their ideas and to present them. Moreover, throughout the week, the participants attended a series of
inspirational presentations from local innovators and thinkers to broaden their horizons. All the participants had access to state of the art workshops and fablabs to complete their creations the Industrial Design Center [Howest], the Maaklab [VIVES Hogeschool] and the BUDA::Lab.
Each participant was assigned to a group following a theme.
Each group worked closely with a network of partners who have expertise in the themes tackled and are looking for outside the box interventions. The participants worked together in teams to create three projects that analysed the complex and systematic challenges they were being confronted with. Their elaborations speculatively intervened on the territory, but you might see them soon realized in
your surroundings... The ultimate goal of this experience, which was achieved successfully, waas to strengthen the links between different creative and entrepreneurial communities in the territory of Kortrijk and to initiate an international network of young practitioners that work on geography-specific issues through design thinking and different creative approaches.
WATER & SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
How can we restore the connection between citizens an the waterscapes
they live in, in playful and meaningful ways?
they live in, in playful and meaningful ways?
Arts, culture and creativity are becoming an important tool to
support sustainability, diversity, participation and equality. With
water access in Belgium becoming progressively less accessible in
spontaneous ways, we’re losing its catalyst function in bringing
communities together, which is impacting our cultural development.
Moreover, by making the relationship with urban water exponentially
removed, we incur the risk of depriving the citizens of valuable
educational experience regarding water and water safety.
How can play and culture bring us back to our waterscapes and closer to one another?
Brief Partners:
BOLWERK
Bolwerk is one of the cultural
hotspots in the Eurometropolis, connecting people from all
backgrounds and ages. They are
strongly committed to rethinking culture as a catalyst for social and
environmental change. They have been a key partner in the creation
of the Living Waterscapes Summer School, hosting the cohort in their
paradisiac settings.︎︎︎ Bolwerk
POOL IS COOL
POOL IS COOL is a NGO whose
mission is to increase accessibility to water in urban context in playful ways. They started from Brussels, where they opened the first public and free swimming pool of the
Belgian capital. Where next?︎︎︎ POOL IS COOL
#LZSB
#LZSB is a collective who connects
people with their surroundings through unpredictable and
unexpected public interventions. As part of their practice, they want
to encourage wild swimming.︎︎︎ #LZSB
WATER & RESOURCES
How might we infiltrate and reuse water in a more sustainable waywithin an urban context?
Water is the most important resource for humanity.
We consume it on a daily basis but we also use it to cook, clean, wash
and many more vital functions. In Flanders alone we use 745 m3
of water every year, one third of which is used by households.
Moreover the use of water per household has been progressively
increasing over the last generations.
Our cities should be able to capture more
rainwater to offer it back to our
communities. How could we make this
possible in an educational way ?
DE WATERGROEP
De Watergroep, is one of the major water providers in Flanders.
It has been actively working on sustainable solutions to decrease the impact on the environment within the drinking water production cycle. Furthermore, they are raising awareness on the importance of using water more consciously.
︎︎︎ De Watergroep
and many more vital functions. In Flanders alone we use 745 m3
of water every year, one third of which is used by households.
Moreover the use of water per household has been progressively
increasing over the last generations.
Our cities should be able to capture more
rainwater to offer it back to our
communities. How could we make this
possible in an educational way ?
Brief Partner:
DE WATERGROEP
De Watergroep, is one of the major water providers in Flanders.
It has been actively working on sustainable solutions to decrease the impact on the environment within the drinking water production cycle. Furthermore, they are raising awareness on the importance of using water more consciously.
︎︎︎ De Watergroep
WATER & FARMING
How might we mitigate the consequences of climate change for local
farmers in a sustainable and community focused way?
farmers in a sustainable and community focused way?
In the years prior to 2021 rainwater levels fluctuation has been one of
the biggest issues in Kortrijk’s farming community. In fact, in the past
few years Flanders has been facing more extreme weather conditions
alternating between very hot and dry periods and very humid and
rainy ones.
Farms, big or small, are especially facing the challenge of storing,
keeping healthy and transporting water. The Heerlijkheid Van Heule,
amongst them, would like to achieve this goal in an ecological way
involving its community. How can design support them?
the biggest issues in Kortrijk’s farming community. In fact, in the past
few years Flanders has been facing more extreme weather conditions
alternating between very hot and dry periods and very humid and
rainy ones.
Farms, big or small, are especially facing the challenge of storing,
keeping healthy and transporting water. The Heerlijkheid Van Heule,
amongst them, would like to achieve this goal in an ecological way
involving its community. How can design support them?
Brief Partners:
HEERLIJKHEID VAN HEULE
The Heerlijkheid Van Heule is anecological farm surrounded by water with a social and ecological vocation, which welcomes its neighbourhood to join in theiractivities, through events, programs and volunteer work.
︎︎︎ Heerlijkheid Van Heule & Het OranjeHuis
STADSBOERDERIJ
Stadsboerderij is a network that connects farmers and citizens, city and countryside by creating a fair
market for regional organic agricultural production. They work with a
wide network of local producers on the territory of Kortrijk to achieve
their vision.︎︎︎Stadsboerderij Kortrijk
