Architecture, urban planning and research in, on and next to water
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Waterstudio.nl’s Sea Tree is a Protected Floating Habitat for Flora and Fauna

Inhabitat, Bridgette Meinhold Dec 2011

The Sea Tree, designed by Amsterdam-based Waterstudio.nl led by Koen Olthuis, is a floating habitat that creates a safe haven for flora and fauna both underwater and above it. As urbanization and climate change advance, the respective habitats for animals and plants are at a greater risk, especially in urban centers. To counteract some of those factors, Waterstudio.nl came up with these protected reserves to help bring positive environmental benefits to the city.

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Met het oog op morgen

Eva Jinek, Radio 1, Nov 2011

Maandag: Drijvende Malediven
Redactie Oog
28-11-2011 23:26

In het Zuid-Afrikaanse Durban wordt de komende dagen weer geconfereerd over het klimaat. Of de zoveelste top iets gaat opleveren, is nog maar de vraag. De president van de Malediven, ziet het in ieder geval somber in. Zijn land -met 300 duizend inwoners- dreigt het eerste slachtoffer te worden van de zeespiegelstijging. Er zou echter zomaar een oplossing kunnen zijn, en die komt uit Nederland: drijvende eilanden. Hoe dat in zijn werk gaat, hoort u van Koen Olthuis, architect van Waterstudio en Paul van de Camp, directeur van Dutch Docklands.

click here for the video min. 43:20 – 51:50

Eva Jinek presenteert.

Floating Sea Tree is a vertical hangout for wild life

OKEANOS, Dec 2011

Including environmentally conscious features as part of an architectural design is both popular and responsible. Central Park is a great example of the potential benefits. The city of New York could make billions of dollars by selling the real estate to corporations looking to build skyscrapers. But if Central Park was destroyed, then New Yorkers would lose the one place in the city where they can escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

The more we build, the more we displace the local flora and fauna. Including considerations for nature can lead to a more environmentally friendly design, as well as improving the morale of nearby people. While ignoring plant life might be more cost effective, improving the happiness of citizens is always a worthwhile goal.

Waterstudio.nl, a popular aquatic architecture firm, has designed the Sea Tree, a floating safe haven intended specifically for plants and animals. The design features dozens of layers, both above and below water, which create nesting grounds for birds and anchoring points for plants. Given enough time to grow, the Sea Tree will eventually resemble a sort of hanging garden, with branches and vines hanging from the different levels.

Beneath the surface of the water, the view is equally as lush and verdant. Underwater layers create homes for fish and aquatic plant life. From its lowest to its highest point, the Sea Tree is devoted entirely to promoting wildlife. And with its unique aquatic design, it accommodates the local wildlife of any location. It would be just as useful off the coast of New York as it would be in Tokyo harbor or the Thames River.

The Sea Tree represents a new and unique trend in architecture, not because it is environmentally conscious, but because it defies the traditional purpose of architecture. Most buildings exist for human inhabitants. Designing buildings for birds, plants, and fish opens up a new realm of architecture.

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Dutch Docklands to the rescue for Dubai’s World project?

Gizmag, Bridget Borgobello, Nov 2011

The troubled World Project in Dubai, which has been riddled with problems since the global financial crisis in 2009 including rumors that the islands are sinking, may have found salvation. Architectural firm Dutch Docklands has developed, designed and engineered a master plan for 89 floating islands, giving current World investors the opportunity to purchase a floating paradise. The solution would provide investors with an option that’s more feasible and cost-effective than building on the existing land masses, whilst also incorporating several environmental benefits.

“Floating islands are environmentally friendly and leave a zero footprint after its lifespan, and opens opportunities where there is a scarcity of land,” Jasper Mulder, General Manager of Dutch Docklands Maldives told Gizmag. “They are the answer to urban limitations and climate change. It secures a safe and sustainable future where conventional building methods fail.”

The 89 floating islands proposed for the Middle East includes residential and commercial floating developments with a total surface area of 220,000 square meters (almost 2.4 million sq.ft). Dutch Docklands founders Paul Van de Camp and Koen Olthuis have developed technologies for developing floating constructions beyond the waterfront. “In Holland we have hundreds of years of experience of water management, many centuries of innovation to protect us from the water,” explained Mulder. “The vision of Dutch Docklands is to use this know-how in an offensive way by living with the water by way of floating developments. This new approach has automatically led to the first floating developments mainly built in the Netherlands.”

Dutch Docklands’ floating islands may be the preference for many World investors, as “serious talks are being held as we speak” said Mulder. However, the forward-thinking Dutch architects also have plans for the Maldives. A joint venture with the government of the Maldives has led to an ambitious master plan for more than 800 hectares (80 million sq.ft) of water, with floating construction currently in development.

The project hopes to see the completion of four individual ring-shaped floating islands, each with 72 water-villas; 43 floating private islands in an archipelago configuration; the world’s first floating 18-hole golf course; and, an 800-room floating hotel. Furthermore, the floating islands will be interconnected by underwater tunnels, and the golf course will feature an underwater clubhouse adjoining two luxury hotels.

The reality of floating islands could start to shape future urban landscapes, with further scope for agriculture, offices, housing and leisure. “This will lead to new economic opportunities where governments can cost-effectively lease islands with flexible solutions instead of investing in static developments,” concludes Mulder. It would also seem that Dutch Docklands could be the perfect candidates for Paypal founder Peter Thiel’s floating city challenge we covered a few months back!

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Floating islands on ‘The World’ could be a reality soon

Parag Deulgaonkar, Emirates 24/7, Nov 2011

Investors who bought a water mass along with their islands on The World project have now an easier alternative than starting construction on their islands – getting a “self-sustainable” floating island.

This time the concept has been introduced by the Dutch company which won the competition to build Nakheel’s Floating Proverb – spread across 89 floating islands around Palm Jebel Ali. The project, with a surface area of 220,000 square metres, is to spell out an Arabic poem when read from the air.

“We are seriously looking at launching a floating island on The World. And we are in talks with some private investors,” Paul van de Camp, Chief Executive Officer, Dutch Dockland, told ‘Emirates24|7’ in an exclusive interview.

Majority of investors in The World bought a water mass when they bought their islands. Today to make the islands ready for construction, they will have to pour in a lot of money. Instead, they could have a “self-supportable” floating island that can be constructed in combination with the already existing landmass and will therefore become much more feasible.

“As all the equipment is within the island and is therefore completely self supporting; the owners do not have to depend on getting any infrastructure ready.”

In October, however, a Dubai-based joint venture revealed the “floating island” villa concept for the owners of islands in The World project, called ‘Ome”.

When asked about the floating proverb, Van de Camp states: “It was brilliant concept. We have worked on it and the concept is still there.”

A floating stadium for Qatar?

Not just a floating island, Dutch Docklands, the company that has a reputation for producing zero footprint floating projects, has numerous other concepts building a floating Olympic village and a stadium.

Well, they will soon be pitching this concept to the Qatari government and looking to turn it into reality.

Van de Camp believe that one of the very good opportunities for them as a company is that Qatar will be hosting the World Cup and bidding for the Olympics.

“They will need to build infrastructure and stadiums. Although for many people it will be quite a visionary thought, but we can build a floating stadium or even a whole village for them.”

He adds: “We haven’t spoken to the Qatari government as of yet, but we have this serious idea of floating infrastructure for the Olympics.”

In May 2010, Dutch Dockland entered into a joint venture with the government of Maldives to develop several floating facilities such as a 18-hole golf course, hotel and private villas.

Click here for the website

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