Climate coaster: interwoven languages
Illuminating landscapes
A narrative tapestry of the landscape the Maashorst enriched with light, color and augmented reality. The climate overlay is a rolling landscape through which dynamic light shines to literally illuminate landscape features. A tangible translation of reality, and thus a wonderful tool to open a conversation.
A climate carpet with augmented reality
Citizens, farmers and policy makers all interact with the landscape and have each developed their own language for it. These languages often vary widely, making efficient communication difficult. The climate underlay simplifies this complex system and makes climate-related opportunities and challenges understandable to all. The carpet adds an extra dimension as a tactile altitude map. Our translation to AR unlocks a new dimension to view the landscape from all angles. The addition of animation tells a story about the journey of water and how it plays a role in the identity of the landscape. With interaction, the user is actively informed and stimulated.
Here's how it works
The bottom layer consists of a scientific data language that projects information from the soil and water system through an LED screen. Blue light indicates wet situations, red indicates dry, yellow indicates dry and green indicates moist.
On that LED screen lies a design language that, through emotional expression, translates the climate foundation into a warm and tangible landscape carpet that incorporates the soil map and topography through earth tones, different tufting methods, thread lengths and an open structure. The harsh LED light is softened by the carpet, creating a wonder and twinkling interplay between LED and carpet.
Finally, the language of the future was used. In Augmented Reality, climate overlay tiles have been developed that literally visualize the functioning of the soil and water system below ground level in a dynamic way. In addition, the Augmented Reality forms a dynamic storyline through which the visitor can move. This new technique gives the visitor a sense of being part of the projected space and works on the basis of movement.
“A beautiful translation of the climate overlay in the area of our North Peel. A relatively ‘made’ area which has seen many changes and is far from finished changing. Municipality Maashorst is looking to the future. By having the right conversation we shape those illuminating and possible landscapes. I am proud that as Maashorst we want to look that way.”
– Jeroen van den Heuvel, Alderman Municipality of Maashorst
Illuminating Landscapes at Dutch Design Week
Illuminating Landscapes’ innovative and unique nature earned it a spot at Dutch Design Week 2023. The project was received with high praise and attracted many visitors for days: students, families, retirees, companies, politicians and even Queen Máxima.
Now is the time to use the Climate Underlay for what it was created for: to start a conversation about our landscape, both past and future. The Climate Underlay: interwoven languages goes on a journey.
The Climate Underlay: referenced languages is a special collaboration between experts from different fields: Municipality of Maashorst, Bureau Streekk, Studio Liselot Cobelens, EVRgreen Studio, GIS specialist Lars Verhoofdstad and programmer Hugo van de Kuilen. Photos by Made By Jane Photography
If you want to learn more about the offerings, mission and personal motivation for each partner, read on at the Bureau Streekk website.