This project investigates the possibilities of the biobased material reed from local sources to reduce embodied energy emissions in the building sector. The drained wetlands in the Netherlands release carbon into the atmosphere leading to the inability of the wetlands to serve as carbon sinks and habitats. The rewetting of polders leads to the opportunity to grow more wetland crops. The research asks what the possibilities of locally harvested reed as a building material and its use in different building elements are linked to the whole lifecycle of Common Reed (Phragmites Australis) as a plant.

To grow this multifunctional crop on the Poelpolder on the outskirts of the city of Haarlem the rewetting of the polder is necessary. Thus, with the aid of the activity centre, the polder is transformed into a productive green fringe and adds a multipurpose to the recreational zone. It can be integrated into the residents’ daily life by providing communal functions such as a participatory kitchen and professional functions for the development and testing of reed.

The project is a case study to use common reed as arches for the load-bearing structure and show the possibilities and challenges of this biobased material.