We initially designed our geodesic dome as an outdoor research laboratory for scientists to investigate the influence of nature on our health & behaviour. The dome has since developed into a venue for lectures, debates, workshops & events to promote healthy urban living, a concert hall for acoustic music & it is available to hire for private events.
The dome was designed in collaboration with artist Tim Boin of Sober Industries whose body of work is inspired by geometry and its relation to vibration. Tim worked with The Green Living Lab co-founder Aveen Colgan to realise her vision of creating a harmonious organic structure, where people inside feel good and connected with nature while they go about their activities; working, studying, learning, playing and relaxing. The dome was integrated with the garden with a green slope, in order to enhance this feeling of harmony with nature throughout the location.
The dome is fully transparent, offering guests a 360 degree view of the surrounding garden. The form of the dome is a truncated icosahedron, the natural form of the Carbon 60 molecule. The dome’s structure has been constructed from Lexan and Accoya to ensure durability.
The green slope circling the base of the dome integrates the structure into our garden, creating a feeling of balance between our activities and the surrounding nature. The green slope is a hügel bed, formed by layers of large logs, branches, twigs, compost & organic soil. The hügel captures carbon in the soil & the decomposing wood inside provides a consistent source of nutrients for the plants. The wood inside the slope acts like a sponge to absorb & store rainwater, which is then released during drier periods.
Our green hill is a space to grow plants & herbs & provides a comfy place to sit, relax, study or work while enjoying the garden.
Our outdoor workshop space was designed as a space to conduct workshops, watch films & to enjoy cooking healthy food together.
The space was built from scrap & recycled materials, donated by & gathered from other building projects in Amsterdam.
Just like the entire Green Living Lab location, the design of the outdoor workshop area was multi-functional, using fewer resources for greater output & in balance with nature.
Our organic & pesticide-free garden is an outdoor classroom where hands-on, applied learning sessions on subjects including urban gardening, composting and urban wildlife take place. It is the perfect location for team building events in nature, where groups are given fun activities to complete in the garden while learning from experts.
Our garden is also a place for reflection and relaxation. Running along the edge of the garden is a small food forest trail where you will find two seats hidden in the trees, providing a quiet, sheltered space for you to take time out and recharge in nature.
Our Food Forest was created to explore how we can landscape food production into small spaces in an urban environment. By mimicking the diverse natural layers of vegetation in a forest, we are experimenting with making the most efficient use of our space to produce organic fruit, vegetables and herbs with perennial plants.
In front of one of our willow structures we created a unique space for learning & relaxation in nature, a barefoot willow circle.
Walking barefoot on the earth is believed by some to make us feel better. We invite you to visit our willow circle, kick off your shoes, relax on the grass and tell us if you feel good!
The willow circle is a perfect place to meet friends, read a book, hold an outdoor lecture or tutorial or just relax and take time out from busy city life.
Our living willow structures were created by Green Living Lab volunteers, with help from the Upcycle Collective.
They are maintained with love and care by GLL volunteer Daniel Sagath, currently a Phd student with the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU).