5 Floating Living Spaces on the Water

IJburg, Netherlands; Europe’s Largest Floating Housing Development

Located in the west of Amsterdam, the IJburg district is an example of floating architecture. Designed by Marlies Rohmer Architects & Urbanists, the Waterbuurt-West neighborhood was completed in 2011.

The project houses a total of 213 units, consisting of 158 waterfronts and 55 independent floating homes. The foundations of the homes are built on waterproof concrete “bathtubs” (concrete pontoons) that sink half a meter below the water surface. The monolithic concrete structures are anchored to underwater piers or specially placed steel piles (mooring piles) with flexible cables and pipelines.

This system eliminates the risk of flooding by allowing the homes to rise and fall naturally in response to changes in water levels. Lightweight steel construction and lightweight materials such as wood or fiber cement panels are used for the superstructure. This method reduces overall weight and increases structural stability.

Nordhavn, Denmark ; Water Integration in Port Transformation

Copenhagen’s Nordhavn project is an example of a former port area transformation. Masterplanned by Ramboll, Nordhavn was developed with the vision of a carbon-neutral “5-minute city” that will reach around 40,000 homes and 40,000 businesses within 50 years.

High-density, sustainable urban fabrics integrating green roofs, solar panels and geothermal energy solutions have been created around the former port basins and canals.

Arctic Bath, Sweden

Designed by Bertil Harström and Johan Kauppi on the Lule River, the Arctic Bath opened in January 2020. The circular structure floats on the river surface in summer and freezes into the surrounding ice in winter.

The structure is constructed from local timber (mostly spruce and pine). The log piles gathered in the middle act as a natural insulation layer. Its foundation is provided by steel piles anchored in the riverbed and flexible mooring systems. This ensures that the structure is robust against river flow and seasonal changes.

HafenCity (Hamburg), Germany; Urban Flood Protection and Modular Development

Hamburg’s HafenCity, the transformation of the old port area that began in the late 1990s, is creating a dynamic coastal living space that is scheduled to be completed in 2025-2030.

Many of the buildings here adopt innovative engineering approaches. Most of the buildings are built on artificial mounds or raised platforms 8-9 meters above road level to protect against possible storm waves. The individual buildings are equipped with integrated flood protection measures called “Objektschutz” (e.g. watertight doors, barrier systems). The project supports urban adaptation.

Kampong Ayer, Brunei

This traditional floating village, which has existed since the 16th century, is home to around 30,000 people. Local, water-resistant trees such as nibung and kulimpapan were used. This village has schools, mosques, health centers and a fire station.