In the Netherlands, Atelier NL, a renowned design studio founded by Nadine Sterk and Lonny van Ryswyck, is finding innovative ways to repurpose the massive amount of clay being excavated as part of the Maas River widening project. With four million cubic meters of clay expected to be unearthed during this extensive infrastructure project, the duo is crafting unique ceramic items and bricks, which they see as a celebration of the local soil and its natural diversity.
The Meanderende Maas project is a six-year initiative designed to reinforce the 26-kilometer dyke running between the towns of Ravenstein and Lith, as well as the floodplains along the riverbanks. As part of this process, clay is being extracted for dike reinforcement and is expected to be sold to local brick factories. However, Atelier NL has been exploring alternative uses for this resource, creating products like ceramic plates, bowls, and cups in shades of terracotta that reflect the rich earth from which they are sourced.
The clay, which has been unearthed during the project, is also being transformed into bricks that can be sold or distributed for community use. The aim is to make the clay accessible for clay modeling projects in schools and other creative spaces. As Van Ryswyck explains:
“The idea is that people can work with the river clay rather than clay they buy in the shops. You put it in water and in two days you can mould with it.”
Atelier NL has already taken six cubic meters of the clay—just a small fraction of the total—to produce approximately 9,000 plates, which were part of their Maas Clay Tableware collection. These ceramics were exhibited during the Dutch Design Week, where a clay “mountain” made from the remaining material served as the centerpiece of their exhibition. This piece symbolized the central theme of the show, which explored the varied ways in which the river shapes the lives of different individuals: from local residents and contractors to designers and even the river itself.
Van Ryswyck and Sterk, who founded Atelier NL in 2007, wanted to highlight the potential of the clay beyond traditional uses. By converting it into functional objects, they aim to emphasize the natural diversity and beauty inherent in the soil around the Maas River.
However, bringing this vision to life wasn’t without its challenges. Van Ryswyck had to spend months convincing the authorities behind the government-funded project that there was value in considering alternative uses for the extracted clay. She recounts:
“I was pitching for about half a year to convince them.”
The designers also hosted a dinner for contractors involved in the project, serving food on their Maas Clay Tableware to spark conversation and change perspectives. As Van Ryswyck puts it:
“They told us we gave them a new perspective on what they can do. It’s a really important step towards seeing what can be changed.”
This initiative is just the beginning for Atelier NL. The duo hopes to make the river clay widely available for others to experiment with, and as Van Ryswyck concludes,
“We want everyone to be able to work with this river clay.”
The designers’ long-standing commitment to using local supply chains and waste materials is also evident in their past work, including the design of the first Dezeen Awards trophy, made from London clay.
