The Liquid Commons project is the regional winner of the EO-weijers competition in 2020. The project takes the notion of natural watersheds as the predominant scale to design and develop new forms of durable agriculture and cooperations for the rural area. The design contains a combination of smaller hydrologic landscape interventions throughout a shared zone that functions like a natural waterbuffer and filter. This so called Liquid Commons-zone is based on the specific topography and land-ownership in the valley Noordal in the south of the Netherlands.
In addition to addressing agricultural challenges, the Liquid Commons project also focuses on the issue of water nuisance in the region. Due to changing climate conditions, the need for water buffering in the fine veins of the system is increasing. The project brings together governments and private landowners in a common goal. In addition to addressing agricultural challenges, the Liquid Commons project also focuses on the issue of water nuisance in the region. Due to changing climate conditions, the need for water buffering in the fine veins of the system is increasing. The project brings together governments and private landowners in a common goal.
Following the regional competition, a pilot project was launched in the Noordal area in collaboration with government bodies, nature organizations, and private landowners. This marked the beginning of the Commons working group, which is gradually expanding through the accumulation of smaller water-related projects.
A concrete example of this is our design and implementation of a walnut forest at a strategically located water junction in the valley. By smartly positioning the trees and shaping the plot with landscape elements such as terraces, hedges, and ponds, a sponge effect is created. At the same time, this lays the foundation for new forms of cultivation that offer a sustainable alternative to intensive agriculture.
