How can we improve daily life in urban environments, SPARK the imagination and fight the climate crisis?

Living in urban environments is increasingly becoming more challenging as we strive to enhance our daily life quality, which is drastically affected by the pressing climate crisis. The desire for a better life in the city is not a luxury, but an unquestionable need for us all to breathe clean air, have access to smart transportation, be able to buy apartments or even work in buildings that are energy efficient. Sustainability is crucial in all these long-term endeavours where progress needs to be made, but living however, also means celebration, so it is time to look at creativity and how it takes a transformative turn in activities that pollute a lot, but rarely come under scrutiny in our conversations. In every European capital, big celebrations have meant over the years huge installations and fireworks that, unfortunately, are harmful to the environment. We are a few months away from New Year’s Eve festivities when fireworks will emit a significant amount of pollutants and contaminate water and air: carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and sulphur dioxide, to name a few.

Daan Roosegaarde, a Dutch artist, designer and entrepreneur, is renowned for his innovative approach to the future of design and infrastructure in public spaces, with a particular focus on the energy sector. He will speak at the 2nd edition of consolid8 festival, taking place between September 22nd-24th in Brașov, about the urban landscapes of the future and how they can reshape our connection with nature. Through his activities, Roosegaarde explores creative and technological ways of using natural resources in a sustainable and efficient way. He is the creator of the largest air purifier in the world, the world’s largest and phosphorescent markings, and the world’s most widely circulated solar-charged bicycle pavement that charges during the day and lights up at night. His work is beyond transformative and one of the many inspiring examples of good practices from the Dutch community that the Embassy of the Netherlands is helping to bring closer to the Romanian public at the consolid8 Festival.

Among Roosegaarde’s current undertakings, the spotlight shines on SPARK, an installation of biodegradable light sparks that gracefully traverse the air, guided by meticulously positioned lamps, as a more sustainable alternative to fireworks. This remarkable creation serves as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional fireworks, inviting individuals to partake in a poetic spectacle while prompting contemplation about more sustainable ways to celebrate within urban settings.

People are dazzled each year by the pretty colours covering the sky. That impressive show, however, is a huge price to pay because it negatively affects human and animal health. Those colours come from different chemical compounds: for instance, pink is made of Lithium salts and yellow of sodium salts. These salts undergo a chemical reaction when ignited. As a result, the chemical reaction releases gases and smoke, including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Due to these gases emitted by fireworks, the amount of heat in the atmosphere is increased, causing more added damage to the already undergoing global warming.

Artist Daan Roosegaarde tries to fight this process and offers an alternative to typical fireworks. He became inspired by the magical light of fireflies and the desire to update the ritual of fireworks. Winner of Dutch Creativity Awards 2022 and 3 Lovie Awards including People’s Lovie Winner, SPARK has been exhibited in Bilbao, Aix-en-Provence, Madrid, Auckland, Jordan, Melbourne, and London, so why not Brasov next?

For those seeking further insights into sustainable living alternatives, we encourage you to explore the consolid8 Festival’s agenda, accessible at: https://www.consolid8.ro/festival/.

The consolid8 Festival stands as Romania’s inaugural event dedicated to green technologies and sustainable urban development. This unique platform facilitates dialogues among entrepreneurs, technology pioneers, experts, and futurologists, fostering discussions on the far-reaching influence of emerging technologies and their impact on future generations. Join the effort on this remarkable journey toward a more sustainable future and get the chance to meet some of the minds already shaping the path towards green living.