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The Rotterdam Watershed is comprised of 2,400 “recycled pvc rainwater pipes.” On the outside of the shed-like structure, plants close off half of the pipes. The other half are closed off inside with caps, and rainwater collected slowly drips through holes in the caps to fill a pond inside the pavilion. Visitors to the Rotterdam Watershed can hop over the pond on stepping stones made of concrete.

Related: Four fascinating Summer Houses accompany this year’s Serpentine Gallery Pavilion

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Using recycled pipes allowed the designers to save money and hire “people with poor job prospects” to help build the Rotterdam Watershed.

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According to DoepelStrijkers, “Rotterdam is famous for its innovative concepts relating to climate adaption and mitigation. Urban development with maximal social and ecological benefits has become part of the city’s sustainable approach over the last decade…The pavilion illustrates in a playful manner how the city of Rotterdam is dealing with the effects of climate change.”

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DoepelStrijkers’ Rotterdam Watershed won a design competition with the theme of “dry feet” put on by the city of Rotterdam. Their pavilion is now on display at the Pop-Up Cities Expo. There are LED lights in the pipes to illuminate the pavilion so people can visit at night.

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Visitors can check out the pavilion this summer in Edinburgh’s Mound Square. It’s estimated that during the expo, the Rotterdam Watershed will capture around 1,500 liters, or about 396 gallons of water.

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Images courtesy of Peter van der Wal/DoepelStrijkers