April 2026 — on the gap between a well-researched plan and a wet crawl space
The design article made it sound rational. The build article made it sound competent.
October 2025 — on being told the noise is fine while holding evidence that it isn’t
There is a specific kind of frustration that comes from a government that is simultaneously collecting your taxes and telling you that the problem you’re experiencing isn’t a problem.
April 2012 — sixteen months, a lot of concrete dust, and one system that works
The previous article covered the design. This one covers what it actually takes to build it in an Amsterdam apartment block with a flat concrete roof, existing floors that need to come up, and a flue that needs to pass through multiple reinforced concrete slabs to reach the sky.
October 2011 — on why doing something properly means drawing it first
The Dutch gas grid is reliable, cheap by European standards, and completely outside your control.
