The Living Lab Team

Welcome to the Living Lab Team Fort Kudelstaart. Four young professionals from the MSc MADE program at AMS Institute. The shared vision of this living lab is that through the co-creation process, living lab Fort Kudelstaart will contribute to cultural preservation, sustainability, and educational value potential in the existing UNESCO-built environment. The living lab will contribute to the argument that heritage can be preserved and enhanced while deeply retrofitting innovative technologies into historical environments. By specifically analyzing the kitchen, we hope to gain a depth of insight into one of the most resource-intensive aspects of Zeilfort Kudelstaart's plans.

Jelle Boorsma

There are many chances in built UNESCO cultural heritage to reuse and revalue existing structures. This case is extremely valuable from a sustainability perspective, creating a practical method of bridging the old with the new. The fort's location on a piece of land bordered by water perfectly matches my background in land and water management. I will focus on the interaction and implementation of nature in the surroundings and also in the fort itself. With this project, I hope we will set an example for other built UNESCO heritage and perhaps outline a dot on the horizon for rethinking and revaluing cultural heritage in the Netherlands.

Ben Nelson

This Urban Living Laboratory and Fort Kudelstaart’s proposed redevelopment presents a symbolic microcosm of some of the greatest challenges we face in cities: deeply retrofitting existing structures, preserving cultural heritage, and reducing environmental costs. I have a passion for innovating how we engineer the built environment process and product in pursuit of a greater equity of well-being across communities. My background is in environmental science and sociology with interdisciplinary experience in entrepreneurial project management, design, research, and scientific writing. My goals include developing as a professional and contributing value that benefits both Fort Kudelstaart and the approach of future projects.

Rianne Ouderkerken

This living lab case really inspired me because of the sustainability aspect. I think it’s super important that we are all trying to do or build more sustainability and try to reduce our impact on the world. I was struck by Martijn’s enthusiasm to contribute to this impactful and historical project. With my background in computer science and user design, with strong interests in data analytics, data-driven applications, and smart cities I hope I can contribute in such a way that the fort will be an amazing and fascinating place to visit. I'm passionate about combining digital transformation with urbanization trends, to improve people's experience within cities.

Stan Willemse

The Zeilfort living lab case got my attention because of its ambition to become a climate-neutral fort. I never had the opportunity to develop a project which aims to be climate neutral. Speaking in historical terms “self-sufficient” and in our living lab “circular”. My goal in the living lab is to work on energy-related solutions that result in less dependence on the energy grid. With my background as a hydraulic engineer and solar project developer, I worked on sustainable energy interventions for the cafe kitchen to become more circular. Thinking of a heat recovery solution, solar panels, aqua thermal energy, and a battery system.

This living lab’s goal is to contribute pertinent research-to-practice realizations in reducing built environment impacts, proving that valuable insights may be gained from intense periods of research and development from outside, multi-disciplinary sources.