This architect transformed plastic waste into a floating park for people and wildlife

To protect the oceans, architect Ramon Knoester is filling open waters with plastic. Most products made from this synthetic material are single-use, ending up in the sea and taking around 450 years to biodegrade. But Knoester was inspired by the material’s buoyancy and strength. “It turns out that by putting the plastic back in durable ways, we can support the environment,” he says. In the Nieuwe Maas River in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Knoester has moulded recycled plastic into a 140-square-metre floating park. Set against the city’s industrial backdrop, the recycled park is a glimmer of greenery and a space for people to reconnect with nature.

Knoester is the founder of Clear Rivers, an NPO which uses litter traps to collect plastic from rivers before they enter the sea. “We don’t need more plastic,” he says. “The litter that is filling our oceans simply needs to be collected for a second life.” For over a year and a half, Knoester and his team recruited volunteers to gather waste from waterways and partnered with the Rotterdam municipality to set up litter traps. The accumulated plastic was then recycled into 28 hexagonal blocks reinforced against one another, with a small canal running through them. The result is an island where vegetation can grow and visitors can convene. Designed to have a rough texture, the structure allows plant life such as algae to easily attach to it while also providing shelter and a breeding ground for birds, insects, and fish.

Knoester and his team have since installed litter traps in the harbours of numerous cities, including Schiedam, Brussels, and Budapest. The recycled park is not just highlighting the sheer volume of pollution. “At the same time it shows the quality and potential of recycling plastic,” Knoester says. With his work, Knoester is laying the building blocks for solutions that benefit both communities and the environment. 

You can contribute to Ramon Knoester’s efforts here.

Footage and photos by Clear Rivers were used in the creation of this film