Project Credits:
‘Land on water’ offers a vision for adaptable, climate
resilient living on the water.
Developed by the Danish Maritime Architecture Studio ‘MAST’ with the support of Hubert Rhomberg and venture studio ‘FRAGILE’; ‘Land on water’ promises a solution for building almost anything on the water; from floating houses in Seattle, floating campsites at the center of Oslo fjord, to saunas on Hobart’s riverfront.
A growing acknowledgment of sea level rise and an increased risk of urban flooding has contributed to a sharp increase in interest in building on water but current solutions, including polystyrene-filled concrete foundations and plastic pontoons, are inflexible, difficult to transport, and highly unsustainable. Land on water promises entirely new, sustainable, and highly flexible solutions.
How it works.. flat-pack floating foundations
The system is based on simple, flat-pack modules made from reinforced, recycled plastic that can be easily transported around the globe and assembled into countless configurations. Providing a secure floating foundation for building housing and infrastructure.
The system was inspired by gabion construction, an ancient technology that utilizes mesh cages filled with rubble to create extremely sturdy, low-cost foundations. In this case, the concept is inverted; and the modular ‘cages’ are filled with locally sourced, upcycled floatation supporting the weight of any structure built on top. This has the unique advantage that floatation can be added or adjusted at any time if weight is added above.
Better for the environment above and below the water
Land on water also promises a far better underwater environment than existing solutions. While steel and concrete foundations are commonly treated with toxic anti-fouling paints, Land on water provides an ideal habitat for fish and crustaceans and an anchor point for mollusks and seaweeds.
A building block for off-grid, floating communities
Land on water promises a climate-resilient and adaptable solution for the construction of new floating buildings but could also lead to an entirely new type of dynamic and organic off-grid floating community and an alternative to the large master planned floating cities currently under development which repeat many of the mistakes made by urban planners in the middle of the 20th century.
About MAST
MAST is a maritime architecture studio based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
We work with water to create innovative, open, and sustainable spaces.
We work internationally and across all scales, from 25m2 floating saunas in Copenhagen harbor to 3000m2 public precincts in Milan and London. We develop architectural proposals, undertake research projects and collaborate extensively all with the aim to reconnect cities to their waterways, creating healthier marine environments, and allowing more people to enjoy them.
www.mast.dk
About FRAGILE
Fragile is a concept and venture studio based in Copenhagen, designing solutions that aim to address the fragility of our planet. We are on a mission to create better, more resilient everyday lives for future generations in times of a global climate catastrophe. Fragile uses bold, visionary concepts that represent a future people can believe in as vehicles to guide companies toward meaningful directions and drive the lasting change that we need to see.
The description is provided by the architects.
