In this edition, Carbon Stories explores how cooperative urban development in the Keilekwartier can contribute to a more circular, inclusive, and low-carbon future.

The Accenttorens Merwehaven take center stage in this edition. The project was designed by Hoog Over (DOOR architects and Hillen & Roosen), in collaboration with Superuse Studios, and commissioned by Havensteder, Woonbron, and Woonstad Rotterdam. The three social housing towers make circularity at scale tangible and serve as an important example within the M4H area development.

In this edition of Carbon Stories, designers and the audience will discuss what is genuinely circular about this project. How was circularity defined and evaluated in the tender process? What concrete results did the design achieve in terms of material savings and CO₂ reduction? And what can we learn from the process – from opportunities and bottlenecks to unexpected outcomes – for future projects and the broader Dutch construction sector?

The event takes place within the exhibition The Power of Community, which explores how collaboration, shared ownership, and new forms of development can contribute to a more circular city. Moderator Geert Maarse will lead the conversation.

Carbon Stories is an initiative of GROUP A | CARBONLAB, Internationale Architectuur Biënnale Rotterdam and KeileCollectief, and is supported by Klimaat Academie Rotterdam.