Grow to Build
Grow to Build
Design Fair 2026 · Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam · 27 september
Design Fair 2026 -
Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam
27 september
01 - GROW TO BUILD
Grow to Build starts with a simple question:
What can we do tomorrow to build a regenerative future?
The housing market is tight, agriculture and nature in the Netherlands are under pressure. Buildings on the edge of farmland, nature and cities require a different approach, given the nitrogen crisis and soil depletion.
Grow to Build is a sixty-year development plan for a production landscape in Drenthe. It is also an education and research center for regenerative self-building. This replicable model improves conditions based on local circumstances: the land is restored through an alternative income model for farmers, new residents serve as stewards of the landscape and developed natural building systems offer an alternative to the polluting construction industry.
This model still awaits one essential component to get started: the actors, which means you.
At the Design Fair, we answer the question of what we can do tomorrow with a first action.
Grow to Build starts with a simple question:
Wat can we do tomorrow to build a regenerative future?
The housing market is tight, agriculture and nature in the Netherlands are under pressure. Buildings on the edge of farmland, nature and cities require a different approach, given the nitrogen crisis and soil depletion.
Grow to Build is a sixty-year development plan for a production landscape in Drenthe. It is also an education and research center for regenerative self-building. This replicable model improves conditions based on local circumstances: the land is restored through an alternative income model for farmers, new residents serve as stewards of the landscape and developed natural building systems offer an alternative to the polluting construction industry.
This model still awaits one essential component to get started: the actors, which means you.
At the Design Fair, we answer the question of what we can do tomorrow with a first action.
02 - MAILINGLIST
02 - MAILINGLIST
Sign up and receive a wildflower bomb
Sign up and receive a wildflower bomb
03 - MOULD YOUR FUTURE
03 - MOULD YOUR FUTURE
Mould your future!
Mould your future!
1.
Wet the mould & place on paper
3.
Remove excess
5.
Leave your mark
2.
Layer of mix & press corners
4.
Push through mould
6.
Join community wall
1.
Wet the mould & place on paper
2.
Layer of mix & press corners
3.
Remove excess
4.
Push through mould
5.
Leave your mark
6.
Join community wall
1.
Wet the mould & place on paper
2.
Layer of mix & press corners
3.
Remove excess
4.
Push through mould
5.
Leave your mark
6.
Join community wall
01 - GROW TO BUILD
04 — AGROUNDED STUDIO
04 — AGROUNDED STUDIO
AGROUNDED Studio turns your vision into rooted reality
• Grounded Designs - We analyse your location’s specific conditions (climate, soil, existing structures) to create a design that works with the site, not against it. This reduces future maintenance costs and increases longevity.
• Site-matched Materials – We identify and specify natural, low-impact materials that suit your site and budget. This ensures your build uses resources that are available, durable and aligned with your sustainability goals..
• Clear Long-Term Vision - We translate sustainability goals into practical, actionable strategies. You get a roadmap that connects your immediate build to broader environmental impact.
• Clear Long-Term Vision - We translate sustainability goals into practical, actionable strategies. You get a roadmap that connects your immediate build to broader environmental impact.
• Collaborative Design – We involve you deeply in every decision. It is important to us that the final result reflects your vision, giving you a strong sense of ownership.
• Collaborative Design – We involve you deeply in every decision. It is important to us that the final result reflects your vision, giving you a strong sense of ownership.
Get in touch.
