Zee Spiegel Woud (Sea Mirror Forest) is a conceptual proposal by Mothership and MAUC (Sander Boer), commissioned by Staatsbosbeheer. For a site near Zeewolde, we designed an approximately 11 hectare solar field that would generate clean energy and, at the same time, act as a clear symbol of the relationship between people, nature, and climate.

The design draws on Zeewolde’s unique story: once water, now reclaimed land. It plays with the idea of sea level. At 2.80 meters below NAP, the level the water would reach without pumps and dikes, a “sea” of partially translucent solar panels rolls across the site in gentle waves. Beneath it, a young forest could grow, like a nursery where trees take root in filtered sunlight.

Because the field rises and dips, with ripples and waves, some parts become accessible for visitors, while other areas stay quiet and are left for nature to develop. The concept also includes a wooden lookout tower made from locally sourced timber, ideally built by people with a distance to the labor market. From the top, you get a view over the meeting of sun, water, and forest.

Beyond the visual impact and ecological value, Zee Spiegel Woud also creates opportunities to learn about solar energy, climate, biodiversity, and the energy transition. It’s meant as an inspiring example of how technology and landscape can reinforce each other and make sustainability feel real and understandable.