The rapid overhaul of the landscape of the port of Eemshaven, in the far north of the Netherlands, perfectly conveys how our accelerating need for energy is creating a new reality. It shows the effects of the massive energy transition taking place in Western societies. The scale and complexity of this transfor-
mation leads (new) material designers to very surprising alternative strategies and unexpected decisions.

We talk to Cas König, CEO of Groningen Seaports NV in Eemshaven, and Sven Stremke, landscape architect, associate professor at Wageningen University & Research, and co-founder of NRGlab. Artist, social designer and researcher Debra Solomon shares her research. We also hear from two New Material Award nominees, who explain their practices: solar designer Marjan van Aubel, and designer and body-mind therapist Judith Zeeman.