Food Forum Almere

Food Forum is a meeting place for experts in the field of food.

The Flevoland Food Forum pavilion stands more than four meters below sea level on the Floriade Park in Almere. The building makes the story of Flevoland visible in a unique way by lifting a 5-meter thick layer of Flevoland soil up to the sea-level line. 

Food Forum was designed by architectural firm DoepelStrijkers and is inspired by the principles of Nature Based Building. This has been combined for so far as possible with the principles of the circular economy, translated into "circular building".

The ground floor is light, reflective and transparent and refers to the sea-level. The space consists mainly of secondary or recycled materials. The first floor is made mainly with renewable materials with an adobe façade that refers to the fertile Flevoland soil. Closing water, energy, material, waste and food cycles is integrated as far as possible in a didactic manner. This can be seen and experienced by visitors to Floriade Expo 2022.

Within the framework of the circular economy, a number of elements such as the lift, kitchen, lighting and furniture fall under a lease contract. The supplier remains the owner of their own product stimulating sustainable innovation and ensuring recycling of products. The building design also takes disassembly and reuse of the building elements and furnishings in the future into account. 

The raised level is primarily made from renewable materials. The structure of this level is built with CLT (Cross Laminated Timber). The construction is also the finish for the walls and ceiling, thereby limiting the need for additional materials. The adobe facade is combined with cellulose insulation and the CLT inner wall. These renewable materials regulate the moisture balance in a natural way giving Food Forum a healthier indoor climate than a regular building. The finishing floor on the first floor is made from recycled concrete reinforced with elephant grass (Miscanthus). It is much lighter than traditional concrete and is fully recyclable. Food Forum is the second building in the Netherlands where this innovation is applied.

Food Forum inspires! People from all over the food chain meet here. From producers and students to entrepreneurs and researchers. Together they make innovative plans for the sustainable food supply of the future.