Phytodrift : Floating Treatment Garden

This Design + Change project focuses on a regenerative approach to farming and its consequences. Eutrophication is a growing problem in aquatic ecosystems, driven largely by nutrient runoff from agriculture, a deep-seated anthropogenic issue. Through redesigning Floating Gardens on waterbodies that consume excess nutrients, this project envisions a holistic future where even contradicting needs can be met. Providing the space for humans to cultivate crops while allowing the aquatic ecosystem to regain its strength. The final design consists of multiple layers. One of them is an illustrated guide on how you can and why you should make your own Floating Treatment Garden. Additionally, there are step-by-step instructions with pictures available online on a Platform for sharing Do-It-Yourself projects. Another part of my Design is the object Phytodrift itself, along with the pattern to recreate the exact shape of it. Furthermore, I designed the floating gardens to be put on Lake Trummen and an Opening Ceremony where they were planted. Using interviews, field studies, and many consultations with researchers of aquatic ecosystems, a circular design was developed. Phytodrift closes the loop of excess resources in more than one way, using surplus materials for its structure. This project creates a vision of a regenerative future, leading to a revised concept of urban design. That paves the way for encouraging care towards all stakeholders in a system to become the new norm in design.