Zee Spiegel Woud

Zee Spiegel Woud (Sea Mirror Forest) is a conceptual design developed by Mothership and Studio MAUC (Sander Boer) for Staatsbosbeheer. For a site near Zeewolde, the proposal envisioned a solar field of approximately 11 hectares — one that would not only generate sustainable energy but also serve as a powerful symbol of the interaction between humanity, nature, and climate.

The plan is inspired by the unique history of Zeewolde — once sea, now land — and plays with the idea of the sea level. At 2.80 meters below NAP, the level where the water would naturally rest without human intervention, a surface of partially translucent solar panels undulates across the landscape like a shimmering sea. Beneath it, a young forest would be planted, serving as a nursery where new trees can grow under the filtered sunlight.

The variation in height across the solar field — with waves and ripples — makes some areas accessible to visitors, while others are reserved exclusively for ecological development. A wooden observation tower, built from locally sourced timber and designed to be constructed by people with a distance to the labor market, is part of the concept. From its platform, visitors could overlook this symbolic interplay between sun, water, and forest.

Beyond its aesthetic and ecological value, the concept also offers educational opportunities around solar energy, climate change, biodiversity, and the energy transition. Zee Spiegel Woud is envisioned as an inspiring example of how nature and technology can work together to foster awareness and sustainability — a vision of a possible future.