Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has published the shortlist of the design contest for a sound barrier, to be built west of Runway 18R-36L (Polderbaan). The barrier must present an innovative solution for the complex problem of ground noise in Hoofddorp-Noord produced by aircraft taking off from Runway 18R-36L.

Design agencies, businesses, educational institutions and individuals had until 5 June to submit a rough plan for the design. In total ninety-seven designs were submitted. From these submissions the jury, headed by Mr. Gerlach Cerfontaine, CEO& President of Schiphol Group, selected the best for each category. The designs on the shortlist are (in alphabetical order):

Category 1: Educational Institutions and individuals

• Design “Ecobarrier” by Mr. A.N.J.M. van Goethem (NL)
• Design “Slangenfiguur” by Mr. A.P.H.W. Habraken (NL)
• Design “WAVES” by Mr. Ir. E.A. Hermans (NL)

Category 2: Design agencies

• Design “Dobber” by Brandes en Meurs industrial design bv (NL)
• Design “M.A.S.H.” by SPF:architects (USA)
• Design “Silent Blue” by the participants combination: 
  •   KOW Groep B.V. (NL)
  •  LeVel Acoustics B.V. (NL)
  • Studiodd (NL)
  • Bouwhaven Consultants B.V. (NL)
  • Fabrique Public Design B.V. (NL)

Category 3: Businesses

• Design “Dynamic Sculpture” by the participants combination:
  • Ramboll Whitbybird Ltd. (UK)
  • Various Architects AS (NO)
  • Brekke & Strand Akustik AS (NO)
  • Bioforsk Jord og Miljø, Public Research Institute (NO)
  • Ramboll Danmark A/S (DK)
  • Gruppen för urban landskaporganisation AB (SE)
• Design“Elevation” by the participants combination: 
  • Dura Vermeer Groep NV (NL)
  • Arup BV (NL)
  • ONL (Oosterhuis_Lénárd) BV (NL)
• Design “Verdedigingslinies“ by BAM Wegen bv (NL)

These participants will be invited to develop their rough plan into a preliminary design. The panel of judges will select a winner for each category. The winning design will be selected from these designs in January 2009.