Emile Smeenk is a designer and impact entrepreneur with a deep-rooted passion for nature, design and social challenges. Driven by this mission, he works on circular and social innovations within the built environment, both in the Netherlands and East Africa. As founder of CoolBricks, he develops affordable, 100% circular and carbon-neutral building materials—such as biologically stabilised bricks made from cow manure.
In Uganda, he runs a construction company that combines low-tech, traditional earth-building techniques with high-tech research and development. The result: sustainable housing solutions for low-income communities.
Back in the Netherlands, Emile leads Nature Nomads, a design studio focused on ecological, circular and social innovations for urban environments. The studio’s work includes projects like The Living City, which fosters biodiversity and social cohesion by actively involving residents in the co-creation of nature-inclusive neighbourhoods. He merges radical innovation with hands-on implementation, bringing bold ideas to life—across continents.
Emile is a panellist in the session Everything Around Us by Circl during the afternoon programme of WDCD Live on 6 June at Pakhuis de Zwijger in Amsterdam. To attend, you’ll need a passe-partout ticket for the full festival day.
🎟️ Get your ticket here!