Thursday, October 1, 2015

Floriade Almere 2022 moves a step closer

The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) has finalised agreements with the city of Almere and the 'Nederlandse Tuinbouwraad' (NTR) for Floriade Amsterdam Almere 2022.

Left – Nico Koomen - President ‘Nederlandse Tuinbouwraad’ (NTR)  Centre – Bernard Oosterom – Vice President AIPH  Right – Henk Mulder – Vice Mayor, City of Almere


The A1 horticultural world exhibition is to take place in Almere, Amsterdam in 2022. With the theme ‘Growing Green Cities’ the expo will cover over 60 hectares and focus on the future role of horticulture in city construction.

Three final agreements were signed on 1 September following the agreement by the City Council of Almere last July regarding the plans for organising the Floriade.

In order to organise a world horticultural exhibition approval is needed from AIPH which checks if the exhibition meets the requirements for A1 international horticultural exhibitions. In the agreement with the city of Almere AIPH gives its approval to the Floriade Amsterdam Almere 2022 as a A1 horticultural world exhibition. Bernard Oosterom, vice president of AIPH said:"This is a great way to show the world what green is and what the horticulture sector is able to do. The Netherlands has a great heritage of Floriade Expos and I am confident that Almere will do a great job in continuing this tradition."

On the evening of the signing Vice-Mayor of Almere, Henk Mulder, said: "A lot has to be done, we are fully aware of that. But with the agreement of the City Council last July and the three agreements tonight, we can go full speed ahead."

Two further agreements were signed with the NTR, relating to the use of the word mark and logo as well as detailing plans for the coming seven years before Floriade Amsterdam Almere 2022 takes place. Nico Koomen President of the NTR, added: "This agreement is the written embedding of the intention to make Floriade Amsterdam Almere 2022 a big success."

With the approval of AIPH the government can make the formal request at the BIE (Bureau International des Expositions) in Paris.

The current programme for AIPH approved Expos is:

 2016 - Antayla (A1) 23 Apr – 30 Oct, Turkey

 2016 - Tangshan (A2/B1) 29 Apr – 16 Oct, China

 2018-19 - Taichung International Flora (A2/B1) 3 Nov 2018 – 24 Apr, Chinese Taipei

 2019 - Beijing Expo (A1) China

 2022 - Floriade (A1) The Netherlands

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Melbourne proposal for artificial surf park


Surf Park Docklands by Damian Rogers Architecture

Melbourne surfers could ride 1.5-metre-high waves within a heated salt-water pool in plans set out by local firm Damian Rogers Architecture for the city's docklands.


Damian Rogers Architecture has collaborated with engineering giant Arup to conceive and propose the idea for Surf Park Docklands – a contained pool with that would filter in and heat salt water from Victoria Harbour in Melbourne, Australia.

"The whole idea came from being able to surf in a city location," said Damian Rogers. "We think it brings another activity, another space into Melbourne."

The floating open-air facility would project from an existing dock and include a pool with artificially generated "surfable waves", an adjacent beach and a park area.

Visualisations of the proposals show a grass-covered roof curving over a building that would house changing facilities and retail units beside the sand.

Surf Park Docklands by Damian Rogers Architecture

A boardwalk traces the outline of the rectangular plot that would create an extension of Central Pier, located close to Melbourne's Etihad Stadium.

"It's an area that lots of people go to, but there's not always the experience, so we wanted to create something in the heart of the docklands that's a genuine place that people can go to and enjoy," said Phil Carter, urban and transport planner at Arup.

The team is looking into the possibility of creating different-sized waves – breaking perpendicular to the beach for 160 metres – that would facilitate both competitions and lessons for beginners.

With the nearest surfing beach up to half an hour's drive out of the city, the local water sports community hopes the project will encourage more involvement with the sport.

Surf Park Docklands by Damian Rogers Architecture

"To bring the surf to the city is a great concept, especially to a site like Central Pier in the Docklands," said Max Wells, chief executive officer at Surfing Victoria. "I can imagine having surfers in suits heading for an after-work session and kids coming to the Docklands carrying surfboards on Melbourne's trains and trams."

Construction is expected to cost $8 million AUD (£4.5 million) and the project needs approval from the city council before moving forward.

Natural swimming facilities have also been proposed for London's River Thames and New York's East River as part of a growing trend for bathing in untreated water. Herzog & de Meuron recently completed a biologically filtered pool in Switzerland, while a harbour-side recreation area was built in Denmark to encourage taking a dip in the sea.

Monday, June 1, 2015

Almeerdaagse: Floriade duurt nog even

Een van de startlocaties in 2015 en volgende jaren is het NS-station Almere Centrum. Van dit station naar de oever van het Weerwater is minder dan 800 meter wandelen door het stadshart met winkels, restaurants, VVV, hotel, bioscoop en schouwburg op de route.

Een rondje Weerwater is ongeveer 7 kilometer wandelen door onder meer het Lumierepark.Het is een uitdaging om afwisselende en verrassende routes te maken. 


Zowel de Oranje weekendwandeltocht in april als de zes dagen tijdens de Almeerdaagse bieden een voorproefje.

Mis het niet, schrijf nu in en wandel mee!


Door Almeerdaagse,
Dichtbijmeeschrijver 


Voor meer informatie over onze wandelingen : http://www.wandelinalmere.nl

Monday, January 12, 2015

New Initiative Supplies Affordable Organic Food

New Path: New initiative of Locals Aquaponics Farm will lead to helping local communities to be able to eat organic produce regardless income or location.


Researchers and engineers who examined this project have agreed this is a groundbreaking initiative that will lead to help consumers lead healthier lives.

American entrepreneurs, Nadia Robinson and Louis Bookoff  have started a groundbreaking initiative with the distribution of healthy, organic food from their social business, Locals Aquaponics Farm.

Locals allow for everyone to be able to eat organic produce regardless or income or location, and allow for cities to grow smart. Their mission is helping local communities.

The venture combines sensors with technology in a vertical aquaponics growing system to supply a sustainable source of organic produce. The project started on a small scale after years of research and development to meet the growing demand for organic produce that is affordable for the consumer and grown in a transparent and social responsible manner. 

“This business grew out of a desire to preserve and protect the environment for this and future generations. Researchers and engineers who examined this project have agreed this is a groundbreaking initiative that will lead to help a large number of consumers lead healthier lives. 

"Having access to organic food is the best way for them to avoid the supplements and synthetic items like food coloring, preservatives and chemical additives which damage the immune system and cause serious health problems every year,” says Mrs. Robinson, CEO of Locals. 

A fundraising campaign was recently launched on the crowd funding site, Indiegogo, to raise money to start development and production of organic food and take the company to the next level. The business partners have invested thousands of dollars in the last five years to set up the small scale aquaponics farm and are now ready to take the venture commercial.

With the high-quality organic food produced, the company aims to significantly reduce the cost to the consumer and provide affordable alternatives for them to live healthier lives.

About the owners
Nadia Robinson has played vital roles in launching three start-ups prior to Locals. She has degrees in Biotechnology, Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises, and has multiple years of greenhouse experience as well as other growing experience. Louis Bookoff is currently majoring in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises and Accounting at the Whitman School of Management. He has a passion for food and has led various marketing campaigns for restaurants and a startup company.


For more information, contact: Nadia Robinson
Address: 1103 r Harvard St NW Washington , DC 20009
Email: info(at)localsgrowsmart(dot)com
Mobile Phone: 2025771009
 

Website: – http://localsgrowsmart.com
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR_v9b_DWZQ
Indiegogo campaign: http://igg.me/at/localsgrowsmart/x/9223987