Designing a fish hotel: technical school students soon to be working in Paterswoldsemeer
Which fish hotel deserves five stars? From March 7 to March 10, people could vote for one of the 10 designs created by students from RSG De Borgen, Praedinius Gymnasium, and Stadslyceum. A professional jury also assessed the designs. The Noorderzijlvest Water Authority is the initiator and client of this technical assignment. The water authority will be constructing ten fish hotels in the Paterswoldsemeer lake in the coming years and wants to involve young people in this project. The design by Arthur, Simon, Jarien, and Nadine (RSG De Borgen) proved to be the public's favorite. After extensive deliberation, Hugo, Robin, Nadine, and Marloes (Stadslyceum) received the expert jury prize. Both designs will be put into practice and will soon be installed in the Paterswoldsemeer.
More than 200 students took part in the assignment. The 10 best designs were on display last week both online and at Wall House #2. "Young people sometimes come up with the most inspiring ideas. That was certainly evident from this assignment," said Annette van Velde. She sat on the expert jury on behalf of the water board's executive committee. "We were really surprised by the creative, but often also useful ideas. Each design had a number of strengths. It was therefore very difficult to make a choice."
Audience Award
A total of 288 votes were cast. With over 30% of the votes, the design by Arthur, Simon, Jarien, and Nadine from RSG De Borgen proved to be the public's favorite. Jarien: "While you're working on the assignment, you don't really think about the fact that you're collaborating with the water board. But it's actually really cool that parts of our plan are being implemented."
Expert jury's verdict
The expert jury assessed the designs on various aspects: feasibility, sustainability, functionality, originality, technical design, and communication. The assignment was to make the fish hotel 'visible above water'. The design by Hugo, Robin, Nadine, and Marloes ultimately scored the most points. Marloes: "It probably won't be adopted in its entirety, but most of it can be. I'll come back with my mother and sister in a few years. That will be nice."
Translation into practice
The two winning groups will be invited to attend a canoe polo clinic at the Groningen Canoe Club. In addition, the water board will translate their designs into a real design. Adjustments will be made to certain parts, for example after calculating the costs of construction. Adjustments may also be made in terms of materials, to make the designs even more sustainable. But ultimately, the students will recognize their own designs when they are installed in the PWM.
Fish hotels as a Water Framework Directive measure
The construction of fish hotels is one of the measures taken by the water board to improve the (ecological) water quality of the lake in accordance with the Water Framework Directive (WFD). At present, the lake has too few hiding places and spawning grounds for fish and small aquatic animals. The water board is constructing nature-friendly banks. In addition, these artificial structures also provide ecological improvement. We call these artificial structures fish hotels. The hotels will be located under or near the jetties on the east side of the lake.
Young people and water
Noorderzijlvest has long been committed to education in order to raise awareness among young people. This is not just about knowledge. The water board wants water issues to be meaningful and young people to be able to relate them to themselves and their own living environment.