Newsletter Q3 '24

We're already entering the last quarter of 2024, can you believe it? Where did the time go?!

Oh yeah, into a ton of exciting projects and partnerships for transformational impact, in the Netherlands Vietnam, and the USA. And... it's going to be our 25th anniversary soon. Where did the 25 years go indeed! We're plotting a pretty nice party, so stay tuned on that one, as it'll be a quarter century celebration you don't want to miss.

Let me update you on the latest goings on in our neck of the woods.

First, this autumn, we welcome a new future changemaker in our midst; Yan Jonas, the freshly developed son of our Head of Design Emma Westerduin, and Mark Groeneveld. All the luck in the world, little man! For you, your brother, and your wonderful parents.

Besides making babies, in the past months, we've built a partnership with the Buckminster Fuller Institute, been diving deep into the Urban Heat Stress related Cool Neighborhoods project for the EU, and worked on sustainability strategy for one of Asia's most exciting F&B chains Pizza 4P's.

As if this wasn't enough, we saw the opening of the latest sister of UCo, RCT in Tokyo, strategy for the Almere Pampus development area, and delivered a range of exciting smaller projects, including the lovely Hexagonal Homes project.

Read below for details (or just look at the pretty pictures ;) ), and see you at our 25th anniversary?

Tom and Team

This is a big one, hitting home for me personally. Ever since I encountered the work of Buckminster Fuller, his work has stood for me as an example of a visionary, systemic approach able to address the complexity of our global challenges. Today I am exceptionally excited to announce, with great pride, that the Buckminster Fuller Institute and Except have forged a partnership to engage the challenges of our world together.

With the partnership we unite our expertise in systemic sustainability with BFI’s renowned legacy of whole-systems design. BFI, founded to preserve the vision of architect and futurist Buckminster Fuller, continues his mission of solving global challenges through innovative design and thinking.

Back in 2012, we were given the 2nd place in the Buckminster Fuller Prize with our Polydome Sustainable Agriculture system. Today, we accelerated our shared impact to further transformative projects, including Symoto, a new platform for urban and environmental systems, and the our regenerative Orchid City—our vision for self-sustaining cities.

This collaboration amplifies our shared goal of creating resilient, regenerative urban systems for a sustainable future. Read more in the official press release.

What do you do when a brand already considered a sustainability leader asks for help to become a true global changemaker? This is what happened when Pizza 4P’s, a leading chain in sustainable F&B in Southeast Asia, asked us to help build their strategy.

Known for their farm-to-table ethos, Pizza 4P's has long been committed to sustainability, from sourcing local organic ingredients to promoting zero-waste practices in their restaurants. But their ambition goes far beyond just being a leader in the F&B sector—they aim to be a global force for change.

With a mission embedded in their name, "For Peace," they envision creating a positive impact not only through food but across energy, water, biodiversity, and social equity. Our collaboration is focused on building a 15-year sustainability roadmap that tackles these challenges, transforming Pizza 4P’s into a true global changemaker.

Read more in the P4P's article online.

The increasing temperatures in cities due to global warming poses significant risks to urban populations. The Cool Neighborhoods project, supported by the European Interreg North West Europe program, addresses these pressing heat risks in nine pilot areas across the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.

Through community collaboration and expert intervention, we will green over 30,000 square meters of public space. This initiative enhances health, well-being, and biodiversity, measured through a livability index. Learn more about our efforts to create cooler, more livable urban environments here.

On January 1, 2024, the Regenerative Community Tokyo (RCT) was launched, Japan's first Knowledge Institute in sustainability and sister of UCo in Utrecht. Located in the New Tokyo Building's "Yurakucho ‘SAAI’ Wonder Working Community," RCT partners with communities from the Netherlands and Denmark.

Developed by and with partners Mitsubishi Estate and Build Vision BV, the shared goal for RCT is to promote sustainable businesses, foster international exchange, and drive innovation from Tokyo. RCT aims to create a sustainable future through collaboration and shared knowledge. Read more on the development of RCT on the project page here.

Almere, a planned city in the Netherlands right next to Amsterdam, is expanding. We conducted strategic research for the Almere Pampus area, calculating and visualizing urban density strategies for integrated sustainable development.

This pioneering research-by-design project tests different urban densities, including climate-adaptive strategies and soil-based buildup approaches. It defines the programmatic ratio between housing and jobs, incorporates Orchid City principles, and utilizes 12-minute neighborhood strategies.

We delivered several innovative strategies for creating future-proof and resilient urban environments. We look forward to being able to publish more on this in the near future.

Buckminster Fuller was very fond of hexagons. So are bees. And, coincidentally, so is Kaj Dragt, a visionary innovator, who developed the Hexagonal Homes system. Kaj invited us to support him in bringing his ideas to life and transform them into a concept.

Hexagonal Homes rethinks the traditional urban neighborhood. Using biomimicry and circular design principles, these homes are energy-neutral, modular, and adaptable to various environments.

Each hexagonal unit maximizes space, supports shared community resources, and integrates green technology like renewable energy systems and water recycling. These homes offer a sustainable, affordable housing solution that reduces resource use while fostering community resilience. Learn more about the Hexagonal Homes project here.

As we approach our 25th anniversary, we reflect on our journey and our unwavering commitment to finding systemic solutions for societal challenges. Stay tuned for special events and initiatives as we celebrate this milestone.

Meanwhile, we keep updating our archive of dozens of case studies to help spread our knowledge and experiences. Have you browsed around it already?

Stay in Touch!

That’s it for our Autumn newsletter. We value your thoughts and invite you to share your feedback on on LinkedIn.

Warm regards,

Tom and the Except team