SAWA in Grijsgroen documentary

In the 'Grijsgroen' series, documentary maker Rik van der Linden embarks on an expedition with urban ecologists and green-minded Rotterdammers to bring urban nature to life.

In episode 3 'Building for Life', he speaks with Robert Winkel and urban ecologist Niels de Zwarte about SAWA and how developers and architects can contribute to improving the city's liveability for both humans and animals.

Some developers view nature-inclusive building as a necessary evil, but this is not the case for Nice. Nice collaborates intensively with Bureau Stadsnatuur and urban ecologist Niels de Zwarte to make SAWA as nature-inclusive as possible. Not because it's mandatory, but because we want to.

A building takes a lot away, so you have to give a lot back, says Robert Winkel:

Nature-inclusive building is not just an added aspect. The optimal approach to nature-inclusive building encompasses the complete picture. The practice of giving little and taking much truly belongs to the previous century.
The task is much broader and involves the complete picture: we need to create affordable housing, reduce CO₂ emissions by building with wood, integrate sharing to prevent loneliness, and improve biodiversity.

Niels de Zwarte advocates for more ecocentric building instead of egocentric.
How can we create a place for all living species where they want to live and where it is liveable? How can we maximize nature in the city, and how does humanity fit into that? Rik van der Linden envisions a future where we transition from a nature-inclusive city to a human-inclusive nature reserve.
Robert Winkel believes the construction sector must undergo radical change. And we all need to demand it. It's possible, so why not?

Watch the full Grijsgroen series on the Grijsgroen website: grijsgroen.org