Autarc moves on without Ballast Nedam
The business partnership between De Bouwer & Partners and Ballast Nedam, as far as the Autarc project is concerned, has been discontinued as per March 8th, 2010. Parties failed to come to terms in determining the extent of Ballast Nedam’s (future) participation in the Autarc.
On Friday, February 19th Ballast Nedam stated that the only option, as far as she is concerned, for futher participation in the Autarc project, consists of the formation of a joint limited liability company geared towards the further development, realisation and marketing of the Autarc, based on a 50/50 participation.
Shared ownership was and is unacceptable for De Bouwer & Partners.
Eventually, the Autarc is intended to be the construction marketeer’s new headquarters, their “floating front office”. Until that time, the Autarc is available to the public as a marketing platform for sustainable innovation, provided that the surplus costs for reaching autarchy are covered by sponsoring.
Apart from De Bouwer & Partners, the Autarc Consortium consists, at present, of Paul de Ruiter Architects, Deerns raadgevende ingenieurs, DHV, Wolter & Dros, HVL, Verosol, FacilitylinQ and NEMO. The Energy Research Centre ECN from Petten (The Netherlands) is likely to join in on the hydrogen project. The Autarc is supported by “Bouwend Nederland” (Dutch Construction) and the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment.
The Autarc was originally scheduled to dock at the NEMO science museum in Amsterdam in the summer of 2010. That aim will now probably not be met. The consortium will initially attempt to secure the additional financing and a replacement builder and is now aiming for the Autarc to make its entry into Amsterdam in the spring of 2011.
The Autarc is an architecturally highly advanced houseboat / floating office that is a hundred percent self-sustaining in both its water and electrical requirements. This highly ambitious pilot project sets both an example and a new standard in the field of environmental care (our aim: an “outstanding” Breeam-score) without making a single compromise in aesthetics or user comfort.
The Autarc is to be put to different uses. After the initial exhibition phase at NEMO, the Autarc will be available for other exhibition purposes in the Netherlands or abroad. After that, the Autarc will serve as De Bouwer & Partners’ “floating front office”. Eventually, in its function as a floating villa, the Autarc may be used for permanent residency.
Its principal aim is to function as a showcase for state of the art systems and technology in the field of sustainability.
