STUDIO BAS SALA
Working Together for the Sustainable Living Environment of Tomorrow
We are increasingly experiencing more extreme weather. Longer periods of drought and heat are alternating with intense rainstorms, during which large amounts of water fall in a short space of time. These changes have a direct impact on our living environment and present challenges for residents, businesses and governments. How can we ensure that our cities, towns and villages remain pleasant, healthy and liveable places to live, work and connect with others in the future?
The planting brought not only color and coolness in the summer, but also structure and a greater sense of security. It served as a separation between the motorway and the square. Where there was previously mainly stone, something now grew that attracts people and keeps them on the Evenaarplein.
We built three wooden structures with the residents. All objects are painted in cheerful colors and feature greenery. The Yellow Oasis is a seating area with integrated planters. It is a lovely spot to sit amidst the greenery, rest, chat, or pick an apple. The Deck with Gate is a wooden deck with a gate that adds height and scale to the square. People sat, played, ate, and even held a fashion show here. The deck divided the square into different zones. Additionally, it ensured that the square was no longer crossed by scooters and cyclists. During the summer months, the Jeu de Boules court was played extensively by local residents.
Sponge City as a Guiding Principle
An important starting point for this approach is the concept of the sponge city. A sponge city is an urban environment that collects and retains as much rainwater as possible, gradually releasing it back into the surrounding environment. Like a sponge, it absorbs water when rainfall is abundant and makes that water available during drier periods. In this context, the term city should not be understood literally as referring only to a city, but rather to the built environment as a whole.
By collecting rainwater locally, pressure on the sewer system is reduced, while more water remains available for trees, plants and other forms of urban greenery. At the same time, greening helps cool the environment, strengthen biodiversity and make public spaces more pleasant. Examples include green squares, green façades, water-retention features such as rain gardens and swales, rain barrels, and areas where rainwater can be temporarily stored.
The sponge city is therefore more than a technical solution to flooding. It represents an integrated vision for a climate-resilient living environment in which rainwater, greenery, design and human activity come together.
Guided by this vision, Studio Bas Sala has developed a wide range of products, projects, workshops and design tools in recent years. These solutions make it possible to implement climate adaptation at different scales, from an individual garden or small neighbourhood initiative to a larger public square or urban water management system. The focus is not only on technical performance, but also on how people experience and use these solutions and how they become part of their everyday surroundings.
From Innovative Products to Green Community Spaces
Studio Bas Sala develops solutions that make climate adaptation visible and accessible. By combining rainwater collection with greenery, thoughtful design and ease of use, the studio creates products and projects that are not only functional but also enhance the appearance and experience of a place.
One example is the Watershed, a facility designed to support small scale greening initiatives. Solutions like this make it easier for residents to take action at neighbourhood and district level by introducing greenery and making use of rainwater. The Smart Rain Barrel also plays an important role. This product makes it possible to collect rainwater intelligently and keep it available for later use, while also creating opportunities to respond more effectively to forecast rainfall.
Alongside product development, Studio Bas Sala works on projects in public spaces. The Green Placemaking Evenaarplein project, for example, demonstrates how greening and thoughtful spatial design can help create a more attractive and climate-resilient living environment. The Floating University Berlin rainwater artwork is another example of how water and design can be connected in an unconventional and engaging way.
These projects demonstrate that climate adaptation does not have to consist solely of technical infrastructure operating in the background. Rainwater collection and greening can be made visible and can make a positive contribution to the identity of a place. By combining climate solutions with social interaction, engaging experiences and practical use, they become part of everyday life.