Mobile Floating Architecture

-  Michael Borah
Vth Year ,B.Arch
SPA Vijayawada
 Index -I
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

v  Abstract
v  Psychology
1.living with water
2.water as a nature’s fury
v  Introduction to the topic
1.Context
2.Availability of water as resource
v  Scopes and Limitations
v  Case studies and reviews
v  MFA (Mobile Floating Architecture)
1.Technical know how
2.Providing it as a facility
3.Attracting Tourism
4.Conservation Aspects
5.Economic Potentialities
6.Floating Architecture as a solution to sea level rise
7.Floating Architecture at use for lower economic level groups
8. Floating Architecture towards a flexible urban plan
 Index -II
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

v  Environmental Conservation Considerations

1.Water
2.Energy
3.Pollution
v  Sustainability features of MFA
v  Design methodology/System Approach
v  Design Typologies based on
1.parameters
2.uses
3.Techniques
4.Methods
5.Construction and Materials
6.Technological Innovation
7.Scale and size
v  Recommendations in form of
Policy ; Programme ; Project ;Scheme ; Design
v  Conclusion, References
 Abstract
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

4 BRIEF

v The floating architecture basically is the human habitable spaces created on the surface of water to
accommodate the perceptual way of living on the planet but more on the water than the land.
v  The earth consists of 70% water and 30% land approximately where every different indigenous flora
and fauna has flourished since the genesis of our mother earth based on its climate and environment that
it provides at different regions.

v  Humans have evolved to live on land as their home and shelter. Water(Ocean) were generally used for
travelling to different parts of the land and the land has been used to establish settlement alongside the
rivers flowing through the land and meeting the ocean.

v  Throughout history, living on the water has symbolized the dream of living in a symbiotic relationship
with nature, much closer than would ever be possible on dry land. The floating architecture assumes an
utopia ,imaginary city that dwells on water on a larger scale . As the population on the land is increasing
day by day the number of houses to accommodate them is also increasing resulting in the concrete jungle
and the steel and glass high rise structures .

v The topic tries to drift away from living on land and using the vastness of water to find the possible way
of using it to create spaces that can serve residential , commercial as well as recreational purposes.
 Psychology
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

5 1.COEXISTING WITH WATER

v  This section explores our fascination with the mysteries of the ocean. Both the desire to explore the
depths and the lengths of the sea and the fear of the ravages of the sea (flooding) have always
captivated people to break the boundaries and touch the endless horizon. To find the different ways to
coexist with the water world.
v  Like space exploration, the desire to explore and colonize the ocean’s depths stems from the human
desire to explore the unknown. In addition, for many, living on the water represents a type of utopia, a
place untroubled by problems found in civilizations on land.
v  ‘’Humans cant breathe underwater’’ a biological fact changes the course of our existence and
adaptation since our evolution. If it was so, the world would have been completely incredible and
unimaginable.
v  Still the thirst to know what our mother earth has to offer never ends in humans and they try to find
different possibilities in different presented situations .
Living on water has three basic typologies:-
1. Stationary living typology
2. Floating/Amphibian living typology
3. Floating Mobile living typology
This shall be discussed in detail in later sections of the article

v WATER or NATURE finds its way, nothing can stand in its path when it gets furious and nothing can
looks more beautiful when it stays in harmony.
v We humans play a role of adaptive living beings in this world of nature ,we are a part of a change
that is happening day by day ,in the history and geography of our earth.
 Psychology
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

6 2.WATER AS A NATURE ,S FURY

This section explores our fascination with the mysteries of the ocean. Both the desire to explore the
depths and the lengths of the sea and the fear of the ravages of the sea (flooding) have always
captivated people to be dominated by the destructive powers of the water and yet find a way to
coexist with it.

Some of the hydrological disasters [1] in history are

• The Johnstown Flood of 1889 where over 2200 people lost their

lives when the South Fork Dam holding back Lake Conemaugh broke.
• The  Huang He  (Yellow River) in China floods particularly often.
The Great Flood of 1931 caused between 800,000 and 4,000,000
deaths.
• The  Great Flood of 1993  was one of the most costly floods in
United States history.
• The  1998 Yangtze River Floods, in China, left 14 million people
homeless.
• The  2000 Mozambique flood  covered much of the country for
three weeks, resulting in thousands of deaths, and leaving the
country devastated for years afterward.
• The 2005 Mumbai floods which killed 1094 people.
• The2010 Pakistan floods, damaged crops and infrastructure,
claiming many lives.

Tropical cyclones can result in extensive flooding and  storm surge,

as happened with:
• Bhola Cyclone, which struck East Pakistan 
now Bangladesh) in 1970,
• Typhoon Nina, which struck China in 1975,
• Hurricane Katrina, which struck  New Orleans, Louisiana  in 2005,
and
• Cyclone Yasi, which struck Australia in 2011

Tsunamis
• On October 26, 2010, a tsunami occurred at Sumatra, Indonesia
• On March 11, 2011, a  tsunami occurred near Fukushima,
Japan and spread through the Pacific

[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_disaster (wikipedia.org)
 Introduction to the topic
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

7 WATER AS A RESOURCE AND IT AS A FACILITY

v  As we know earth looks blue from the universe ,it is

because of the over abundance of this element-water on
earth. Seventy percent of the earth is water and the
remaining percentage of land surface. It exists in different
forms from its state of vapour to solid in various states such
as glaciers, lakes, snow , clouds, etc.

v  Providing it as a facility as well as resource to sustain

human life on earth from the very micro level to the macro
level in the endless number of uses .

[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_resource (wikipedia.org)
 Introduction to the topic
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

8 FLOATING AS A UNIQUE WAY

v  Water provides the most obvious example of immediacy, because the transition between water and dry
land offers the biggest of all psychological contrast.
v  The waterfront is one of the most visited places in the city, not only because of the different activities
occurring every day and especially during the weekend, but also, due to the presence of water.
v  Through the riverfront the city has a dual orientation, one from the river toward the city, and the other from
the city toward the river.
v The land has been inherited by our social forces to settle our lives and flourish since centuries ; In my
research paper I will try to find new possibilities to revolutionize the concepts of living on water and their
pragmatic and rationale inference of the established and installed projects around the world in their
respective contexts

Below are the images depicting the various adaptable uses inhibited by the different communities. Mobile
Floating Architecture (MFA) being comfortable in a variety of environments and geographies .Picture 1- Tasou
Associates (Anthony, Simon Graham and James Murray) design for lusatian lakelands in Brandenburg,
Germany. Picture 2- Houseboats in Dal Lake, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Picture 3- Floating Market of
Damnoen Saduak, Bangkok, Thailand.

Picture 2 Recreational
use of MFA

Picture 1 Residential Picture 3 Commercial

use of MFA use of MFA
 Scopes and Limitations
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

9 SCOPES AND ADVANTAGES

v Climate change like global warming atmosphere will bring a rise in sea and river level. Usable land in
urban area will be scarce due to continuous expanding development. Reclamation method for land supply is
regarded as environmentally negative and very hard to proceed. People like to live and enjoy leisure
activities near or on water according to the improvement of income level. Therefore floating architecture on
water has been emerging as a feasible and strong alternative.

v The advantages of a mobile structure has a subjective side(everybody can choose a location according to
his desires ,ideas and technical references), as well as objective side (by the means of possible position
changes, maximum solar energy output can be gained)

v The importance of MFA(Mobile Floating Architecture) is realized gradually today and it is playing its role
to amalgamate and reshape the paradigm of contemporary architecture ,differentiating into various
typologies based on the their mobility, stability and pseudo nature . Thus MFA has various types of
floating spaces created, used and established on the surface of the water in their respective contexts and
their understanding. They are:-
a)  Floating structures for flood resilience/Future Sea level rise
b)  For slum up gradation
c)  Commercial Facility
d)  Residential / Recreational Purpose.
e)  Large floating spaces towards a flexible urban plan

v (MFA)is a revolutionary concept in developing flexible regional or community plans where the
functionality of different floating structures can be accommodated as per their use ,time ,and location
desired.MFA (Mobile Floating Architecture is independent of the scale of the structure. It can be a form of
Floating Island ,Golf Course or as large as an Airport.

v  Some of the advantages of MFA are (Recycled usage and relocation), (Easy renewable energy),(Self
supporting plant in terms of electricity, water and sewage treatment), (Modular system), ( Enhanced
Flora and Fauna ), (Enhanced commercial value and tourism of the place) .[2]

LIMITATIONS

Some of the limitations of the MFA are:-

 Case studies and reviews
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

10 1.Recreational ; 2.Commercial ; 3.Residential ; 4.Reviews

1.Residential Floating Houses of Amsterdam, Holland

v  This is the example of the residential use of the MFA(Mobile Floating Architecture) located in
Amsterdam , Netherlands.
v  The country is located adjacent to the North sea and 60% of the land is currently below sea level. [3]
Two of the most significant reclamation projects of the 20th century are the Zuiderzee works project from
the 1920s and the Deltaworks project from 1950-1997 consisting of dams, sluices, locks, dikes, and storm
surge barriers intended to protect the coast from the tide. Without these “engineering marvels the sea
would reclaim half of Holland.” These incredible feats of engineering have also both been named the 7th
Wonder of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. But the inevitability of nature can’t be
stopped
v  So, reversibly architects and planners of the city are deciding to allow the water in their living spaces
than avoiding it, thus resulting into the floating homes.

2.Commercial Floating Markets of Thailand

v This is the example of the commercial use of the MFA(Mobile Floating
Architecture) located in the busy areas of capital city of Thailand.

v The canals are being used for trading and marketing purposes in which
boats are used as a mode of transport from one point to the other.

v This extensive use of MFA through centuries in such a manner has

signified the place of its cultural inheritance and also as a tourist
attraction to visit Thailand.
 Case studies and reviews
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

11 1.Recreational ; 2.Commercial ; 3.Residential ; 4.Reviews

3.Recreational Houseboats of Dal Lake, Jammu &

Kashmir ,India

v  This is the example of recreational use of the

MFA(Mobile Floating Architecture) located at Dal lake,
Jammu and Kashmir ,India.

v  The place is located in the northern part of India ,on the
foots of the HIMALAYAS bringing many tourists all over the
world to experience the incredible, refreshing heavenly
setting on earth.

v The lake is swarmed with houseboats, traditionally called

as “Shikaras” as tourist lodges. Visitors spend their time by
living in these houseboats on the lake which are completely
floating on the lake and they use small boats to travel to
the ends of the water body

v The economy of the place depends on the revenue

collected by tourism on a large proportion

4.Reviews

v  This are three examples of MFA(Mobile Floating Architecture)established in different contexts at
different places.

v  Based on the application of this concept in these examples ,it can be referred that the floating bodies
have flexibility in terms of their habitable nature .

v Some of the applications are result of the changing nature and Global Warming and some of them
are just the product of human choice of habitation in these spaces.

v There are lot of applications coming up in recent times as floating houses, bridges, restaurant, lodges,
resorts ,even airport(Kansai international airport) recorded as the biggest man made island on earth and
many more showing the endless possibilities to inhibit on waterscape.
 MFA(Mobile Floating Architecture)
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

12 Technical Know how

Archimedes Principle

v “ If a body is wholly or partially immersed in a fluid , it experiences an upthrust equal to the weight of the
fluid displaced and this upthrust acts through the centre of gravity of the displaced fluid.”

Upthrust = Weight of fluid displaced

Law of Floating Bodies and Buoyancy

v  The weight of a body is equal to the weight of liquid displaced .

If W is he weight of the floating body and v is the volume of liquid displaced, then W=vdg
where d is the density of the liquid .
If D is the density of the body and V is the total volume of the body ,then W=VDg
VD = vd

v “ A body floats in a liquid if the weight of the liquid ,displaced by the immersed portion of the body ,is
equal to the weight of the body.”

Weight of the liquid displaced by the concrete void is equal to weight of the structure above the concrete void , thus it
floats
 MFA(Mobile Floating Architecture)
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

13

Providing it as a facility
v  From the examples given in shown case studies and reviews ,it can be stated that
floating architecture can be broadly used as a facility for various activities .
v From the early times, mobile floating bodies has been serving as the mode of transport for various
functions required to be carried through waterways .
v Warships and submarines,(MFA) are the most important possessions for Country defense establishment
to protect seaways .

v Thus Mobile floating architecture can serve as a facility in various functions such as:-
a)  Mode of transport
b)  Commercial, Residential, Public utilities
c)  Modes of defense establishments.
d)  Recreational facilities, like floating resorts, floating golf course
e)  Mega sized public spaces like floating stadium , floating airport(Kansai International Airport)

Attracting Tourism

Floating architecture in various aspects have s great deal of potential in attracting tourism to the place.
Initially, the floating structures or spaces were considered as the rich man’s passion or recreation. But then as
the functionalities evolved ,they came to be applied in different orientations and use.

It possess a great amount of share in revenue generation of the place if the spaces are so created that it
will attract the people to have a recreation in their leisure time. Some of such examples a re given
below ,images seen clockwise from top shows 1.floating restaurant in Kolkata, India. 2. Floating theatre 3.
Floating mosque in Dubai(Waterstudio.NL Design) 4. Floating residence.
 MFA(Mobile Floating Architecture)
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

14

Conservation aspects
Thus Mobile floating architecture are related with the following conservation aspects :-
a)  Conservation of sea life , flora and fauna
b)  Conservation of energy ,Sustainability and self sufficient techniques
c)  Air quality and Solid waste management
d)  Flood resilience , Conservation of shelters during natural disasters
e)  Conservation or Improvisation of slum areas through energy supplying floating bodies
such as floating solar panel beds , floating water filters , floating farmlands, etc.
This will be discussed in detail in the next section of the this research paper.

Economic Potentialities

v The focus on floating solutions has grown enormously. It has shifted from freak architecture to more
sustainable, flexible alternatives," said Dutch architect Koen Olthuis, citing growing support by
governments and interest among private investors in Asia and Russia.

v The Netherlands, a third of which lies below sea level, has been managing water since the Middle Ages
and is thus a pioneer in the field. It has exported its expertise to Indonesia, China, Thailand, Dubai, and
the Republic of the Maldives, an Indian Ocean archipelago that with a maximum elevation of about 8
feet is the world's lowest country.

v The sea-battered city of New Orleans also has sought advice from Mr. Olthuis's Waterstudio.
In the Maldives, Waterstudio has designed a network of floating islands, the first to be put in place next
year, to accommodate hotels, a convention center, yacht club, and villas.

The "islands," secured by steel cables, are made up of pontoons with a foam core encased in concrete
that can be joined together like Lego blocks. An 18-hole golf course will also be set on such platforms,
each with two to three holes, connected by underwater tunnels. The $500 million project, paid for by the
Maldivian government and private investors, is slated for completion in 2015.

http://waterstudio.nl/projects/overview/Architecture
h t t p : / / w w w. b i n g. c o m / i m a g e s / s e a r c h ? q = f l o a t i n g
+architecture&view=detail&id=7779ACFCAD2B9767F8C5E87D244B5BDD8F15BB93&fir
st=301&FORM=IDFRIR
 MFA(Mobile Floating Architecture)
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

15

Floating Architecture as a solution to sea level rise

The sea level rise according to the studies conducted by the National Institute of Oceanography , Goa ,India
are as follows:-
a)  An average rise of 0.67mm/year and a median rise of 0.76mm/year is experienced on Indian coastline ,
the data is concluded studying the sea level of major cities and taking the average of the coming
magnitude which included Mumbai, Cochin , Mangalore ,Chennai , Vishakapatnam .
b)  On Global scale , the sea level rise of India is accounted as 1.0 to 1.5 mm/year.

In their research article about the vulnerability of the Indian coastline due to rising sea level they have
concluded as follows:-
a)  The region most vulnerable to the rising sea levels are the low lying coral atolls of the Lakshadweep
archipelago.
b)  East coat of India with larger frequency of storms and lower continental slopes is more vulnerable than
the West coast to damage from storm surges.
c)  The stretch between approximately 12 degrees to 18 degrees on the west coast appears to be least
vulnerable,
d)  However the coastline to the south of this belt has shown the tendency to get eroded ,and this tendency is
likely to get increased when the sea level rises.

Mobile floating Architecture can be helpful

for flood resilience in a foolproof manner
to come over natural disaster at
vulnerable locations. Apar t from
independent floating mobile homes that
will stay afloat all the time ,this example is
remarkably different when the houses are
made to place on the fixed sites.
In this technique, houses are constructed
with floating foundation and they are
placed on pillars constructed below which
make the house rise and fall as the water
level changes.

(article) Vulnerability of indian Coastal regions to damage from rising sea levels
(article) Aquatecture, water based architecture in Netherlands by Rebecca Pasternack
 MFA(Mobile Floating Architecture)
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

16

Floating Architecture at use for lower economic level

Mobile floating Architecture can be helpful for lower economic group for the improvisation and
upgradation of the areas like slums . This inevitable matter of slums is always there in each city
where the settlements are swarmed near the banks of the main water body. resettlement is never
the answer, but the improvement in their life by the means of floating architecture may give some
pragmatism to the issue making them more self sustainable.

Some of such examples are shown in above pictures, clockwise from top left:-
a)  Floating Solar blankets for energy supply
b)  Floating Local housing
c)  Floating water filters
d)  Floating agriculture at the borders of slums
e)  2012 WISE award winner design; Solar powered floating school(Bangladesh).

Floating Architecture towards a dynamic urban plan

Mobile Floating Architecture also plays the key role to bring in the
dynamism in urban planning of the city.
v Koen Olthuis , Lead Architect of firm Waterstudio.NL has been
engaged in developing floating structures successfully in various
contexts.
v According to him, Mobile Floating Architecture can be a
revolutionary idiom of a part of change in our inevitable future.
v Apart from the unquestionable need to rise above water where
sea levels are rising fast, he also thinks that the floating entities
can be used as apps in our smart phones. where the city can
configure itself according to the public /private use desired.
v Thus providing dynamism to the overall urban plan of the city
and making the city more flexible in its functionality.
 Environmental Conservation Consideration
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

17 1. Water 2.Energy 3.Pollution

1.Water
Some of such factors come into play when the floating building is placed in an environment.
While comparing all kinds of habitable spaces created on water ,it can be stated that:-
1.  The water pollution is created by dumping inorganic waste in the water while inhibiting in it,
However MFA is the least amount of water polluter in case of dumping waste inorganic matter
into the water.
2.  While we talk of MFA, we also try to design them in such a way that they are self
sustaining ,energy efficient and ecological stable that means it should not disturb nature. It should
coexist with nature in harmony.
3.  Water is the space created on a new paradigm where you try to embrace it by using MFA ,not
to exploit like building islands, by depositing sand over sand on low lying sea levels and
creating artificial archipelago.

2.Energy

There have been many technological advancements in the field of

energy production, supply and conservation with the aid of MFA. The
energy aspects are same are those when it comes to supply energy to
land based habitation. Here , I will cite some examples that shows the
self sustainability of Mobile Floating Architecture typologies.
1.Floating Solar panels
2.Offshore Floating Windmills
3.Pelamis Offshore Hydro energy generator
4.Floating Hydro turbine

3.Pollution

v The pollution is basically caused to the deterioration of the

environment around the floating structure due to the over use of the
functionalities more than the nature permits at its maximum bearable
amount.
v Basically the MFA has the least amount of effect in polluting the
place as it is an independent structure ,where as the creation of
artificial islands has affected to completely destroy the sea life in the
due course of time and this effect can also be seen in some of the
islands of Dubai .
v When the scale of MFA is larger like an Airport, it will fight with the
nature bio diversity flourished around .It will conflict in cases like Sound
created by Aircraft , Bird Aircraft crossing ,thus gradually endangering
the natural habitat.
 Sustainability features of MFA
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

18

Sustainable features of the mobile floating architecture can be summarized as

followings;

v Recycled usage and relocative : Four Seasons Hotel ,Great Barrier reef, Queensland, Australia
showed good example of long term usage by relocation of 3 areas. Floating building can be moved to
different locations and used by different people for a long time.

v  Renewable energy: Most floating building adopts various renewable energy systems
such as geothermal use of sea water, solar energy, and wind power. Renewable energy
on water is easier to get than land because there are no obstacles.

v  Self-supporting plant: Large floating buildings have self-contained system in terms of
electricity, water and sewage treatment because connecting and maintaining the service
lines far from the land is not easy.

v  Modular system: Some planned floating buildings suggest prefabricated module.
Construction waste can be discharged to the minimum and the building might be very
easy and economical to maintain.

Waste disposal/ Solid waste management

Incinerator toilets, compost toilets or a hook up to sewer services along the dock.

Picture 1- Incinerator Toilet Picture 1- Typical Composting

toilet in a house
 Design Methodology/System Approach
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

19

Standards of floatation
According to the British Columbia Float Home Standards, float home means a structure incorporating
a floatation system, intended for use or being used or occupied for residential , recreational
purposes containing one dwelling unit only, and does not include a water craft designed or intended
for navigation. Therefore floating architecture can be defined a building for living/working space on
floatation system without navigation tool.

1)  The floatation system shall be designed according to accepted marine engineering and naval
architectural principles. The design shall be approved and sealed by a Professional Engineer
qualified in such design.
2)  The floatation device shall be durable and protected from deterioration by water, mechanical
damage due to floating debris, electrolytic action, water-borne solvents, organic infestation or
physical abuse. The design shall be approved and sealed by a Professional Engineer qualified in
such design.
3)  Where solid floatation devices are not used, adequate pumps shall be maintained in proper
working order, and accessible sounding pipes shall be provided for each compartment.
4)  A float home with a floatation device other than solid floatation shall be equipped with a bilge
alarm system with detectors in each compartment with audible and visual alarm indicators in the
float home.
5)  The overall buoyancy and stability of the floatation device and superstructure shall be designed
to accommodate local wind conditions and water turbulence, moving and launching, wave action,
tides, loads imposed by vessels and walkways moored to the structure, live and dead loads and
the possibility of water flooding associated with fire fighting.

System approach

The floatation system is incorporated depending upon specific type of function required to be
accommodated in the following contexts :-
1.  The application can be in the context of Flood resilience or Disaster Mitigation.
2.  Slum Upgradation of the localities situated near the water bodies.
3.  It can be used as a mode of transport or as a commercial facility as shown in case study.
4.  Purely Residential and Recreational purpose either as an urgent need to float or for its
commercial value.
5.  It can be transformed into an flexible use mobile structure at the regional as well as urban
planning level.

British Columbia Float Home standards;3.1.1 Floatation and stability

 Design Methodology/System Approach
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

20

Standards of floatation
According to the British Columbia Float Home Standards, float home means a structure incorporating
a floatation system, intended for use or being used or occupied for residential , recreational
purposes containing one dwelling unit only, and does not include a water craft designed or intended
for navigation. Therefore floating architecture can be defined a building for living/working space on
floatation system without navigation tool.

• Fixed stationary structures

constructed on piles
stationary • Near the shores ,constructed
at heights to counter water
level rise

• Fixed on stilts , piers and

floats only when water
Partially level rises
floating • Suitable for the places
where seasonal water
level rise is seen.

• Permanent floating
structure
Mobile • Independent of the water
floating level , constructed with the
floating foundations.

British Columbia Float Home standards;3.1.1 Floatation and stability

 Identification of MFA
Floating Architecture 07/01/13

21 Technical Know how

According to the less alarming forecasts of

the GIEC (Intergovernmental group on the
evolution of the climate), the ocean level
should rise from 20 to 90 cm during the 21st
Century with a status quo by 50 cm (versus
10 cm in the 20th Century).

Floating or public spaces at the sea shore

whichever is more feasible at a urban context