The Daan Roosegaarde interview | This rock star innovator is converting smog into jewellery

With boyish charms and uber cool appeal, Daan Roosegaarde is a rock star innovator. The 38-year-old, who is in news for his unique smog-free project, on Friday spoke exclusively to WION's Political Editor Kartikeya Sharma. Talking about his 4-year-old project, Roosegaarde explained how it removes pollutants from air and has now been implemented in Beijing, Rotterdam and Milan. Here are edited excerpts of the interview:

Q: How did you come up with the idea of smog free towers?
A: Smog free project is the project for clean air and making places good for people. We built smog-free towers which sucks polluted air, cleans it and produces clean air. So, we have parks which are 20 to 70 per cent cleaner than the city. We produce them. We were successful in Beijing and now we are looking forward to work with good people in India so that we can bring it to places like Delhi and Mumbai.

Q: How does smog-free towers function?
A: Basically, it sucks up the polluted air from the top and with static electricity, it charges PM 2.5 and PM 2 particles, capturing them and then releasing the clean air. We also design thermal dynamics of the park so that children can enjoy clean air and be outside. It is important to use creativity and new technologies to improve life. The tower project has matured and this year we are bringing smog free bicycles which suck up polluted air thereby improving the life of the people.

Q: Are towers cost effective and energy efficient?
A: There cannot be price for clean air. Everything we use it either energy neutral or utilizes low energy. It is an innovation and investments need to be made to improve life. As long as we live in the world where we think that we can pollute things for free, we will never progress.

Q: What do you do with the waste? Can it be recycled?
A: Everything is circular in the new world. We collect the smog particles. Inspired by how diamonds are made we are making jewellery from the smog particles. You can donate thousand cubic metre of clean air by sharing a ring to the city where the tower is in.

Q: So, you have basically married art with artifact.
A: Absolutely as I think that creating thinking is the true capital and correct way to progress. Off course it will be connected with long term governmental programmes like clean air and water programmes but we should not wait for the governments to do it. we should work as collaborations to improve life and I’m hoping to bring these projects to India. I read Krishnamurti when I was 16-year-old. I always had fascination for India. So, it’s great to work together to improve.

Q: How did you think of bringing environment, design and jewellery together?
A: Mind is a beautiful thing. I’m a designer and an innovator from Netherlands. It is important to create new links between creative thinking and technology. We live in a new world so we need to find new strategies and tactics to make life good again for us. Today’s condition in context of pollution is bad design and we have created it ourselves. We can do two things. We can either be said and lonely and blame other people or we can design and engineer the way out of it and I would prefer to spend my time love and energy on the second option.

Q: Do you have any specific projects in India?
A: We have worked on smart highways which charge themselves during the day and shine in the night. It makes highways safe, energy neutral and beautiful. Future of mobility is also really interesting. Let’s first do smog free projects and see how can we inspire each other.

Q: how is your clean water project working?
A: We are focused on clean air and energy and clean water is our next focus. We are trying to raise awareness about rising sea level. We are trying to clean water and you know our home is actually below the sea level. We have been fighting and living with water for hundreds of years. So, it’s exciting to apply such technologies in a huge country like India. We only have a population of 70 million. But at the same time, it is about working together.

Q: Delhi’s air is very polluted. What can be done to clean Delhi’s air?
A: I think it is about setting new standards. True luxury of life is not to drive a Ferrari but to have clean air, water and energy. As long as we continue to live in economies where it is free to pollute, we will never progress. Investments in new ideas are required. Clean air should be treated as a right for everyone.