Koen Olthuis (1971) studied Architecture and Industrial Design at the Delft University of Technology. He is founder of the Dutch architectural firm Waterstudio.NL that specializes in floating structures to counter concerns of floods, which are both a local concern (one-third of the Netherlands is reclaimed land) and a global one due to the possible effects of climate
change. In 2007 he was chosen as nr 122 on the Time Magazine list of most influential people in the world due to the world wide interest on water developments. His vision is to change cities worldwide by using water as building ground.
Static cities have to change into dynamic cities ready to adapt to floods and fluctuations which are influenced by climate change. The first city in which this work is under development is The Westland, near The Hague in Holland. A project with floating social housing. floating islands, floating apartment buildings.