ecoboat

The Cepholopod 1 is the result of the way of thinking of a designer/sculptor about floating houses. Ben Rigby’s design consists of three diamond-shapes meeting each other in the center triangular form. Because of the sharp edges, this form can easily absorp the energy of powerful waves. The Cepholopods energy comes mainly from solar panels installed on the houses, and from wind turbines which erect automatically from the deck in case of wind. At times of heavy weather the turbines can lower into the deck, completely flattening the deck, so that waves and wind can easily move across the Cepholopod. One Cepholopod provides space for 3 apartments. Each apartment has his own docking station for a small boat to get to the shore. The water can be pumped out of the docking stations, so that the boat won’t be damaged in case of heavy weather.

In Juli the DeltaSync-team of the TU Delft, together with the municipality of Rotterdam, presented the concept of a Floating Pavilion to the World Expo Committee in Shanghai. The presentation was attended by around 50 officials, several news channels such as Shanghai Television (SMG), CCTV and Dragon TV and a handful of papers (including the Oriental Morning Post and the Shanghai Daily). The design has been received as an inspiring concept that well suits the World Expo’s theme: “Better City Better Life”. Shanghai’s Urban Planning Bureau is currently investigating the possibility of having the Floating Pavilion function as one of the five main entrances to the Shanghai World Expo area. (more…)

David Cavillo, Hao Jun, Ken Luting, Sima, Tuyukan and Bart (Tutor) worked out their infrastructure ideas for floating cities in a well designed poster. The poster was one of the results of an introductory summerschool at Delft University of Technology, where those five students will pursue their master’s studies. The poster (which can be downloaded) addresses aspects of energy, water and food production, as well as the planning of a floating city including garbage treatment.

In het afstudeeronderzoek van Martijn van Winkelen is onderzoek gedaan naar de mogelijkheid om hogere gebouwen te realiseren op een drijvende fundering. Dit onderzoek is geconcretiseerd in een ontwerpopgave voor een drijvend hotel, waarbij binnen de gegeven randvoorwaarden gestreefd is naar een zo groot mogelijk aantal bouwlagen. Lees verder voor een uitgebreide samenvatting van het onderzoek en het complete afstudeeronderzoek met verklarende filmpjes.

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Volgens de bedenkers van Qrooz is leven op het water dé manier om vrij te zijn. Daarom ontwikkelden zij Qrooz, een woon- of werkschip waarvan het nadrukkelijk de bedoeling is om er mee te varen. Aan een, nu nog in het ontwikkeling zijnde, terminal zouden Qrooz-eigenaren in de toekomst op verschillende plekken kunnen aanmeren. Het schip is naar de eigen wensen in te richten en is zelfs in verschillende lengtes te bestellen. Neem een kijkje op Qrooz.nl voor meer informatie en een uitgebreide fotoserie over het bouwproces.

The Deltasync team of TU Delft students has designed a floating pavilion that suits well in the “Better City, Better Live” theme of the World Expo 2010. Great interest from the Expo organization and support from Shanghai’s sister city Rotterdam will promote the idea of a floating city, starting with this pavilion in 2010. The innovative design and the beauty of this multi dome shaped building shall attract visitors to experience the many (environmental) advantages of floating buildings. (more…)

Bezoek deze zomer bij het Architectuurcentrum Amsterdam de expositie “Ligplaats: Amsterdam“. U kunt dan beleven hoe het voelt om te wonen op water, in de drijvende objecten die deel uitmaken van de buitenexpositie. Binnen, in het markante ARCAM gebouw aan de Prins Hendrikkade, vindt u ruim informatie en veel maquettes over bouwen op Amsterdams water. De expositie is te bezichtigen van 16 juni tot en met 26 augustus 2007.
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A consortium of groups of TU Delft students won the first, second and fourth prize with their innovative solutions for crowded deltas. The design of a floating city between Amsterdam and Almere won the first prize. With large thermodomes -as already envisaged by Buckminster Fuller- the city is largely self-sufficient. Nevertheless the design gives inhabitants ample room to park their car in front of their house. Click here to download a 6.7 MB PDF file with nice pictures and a full description of this winning design.

The second prize was won by the group (more…)

Two groups of Asian MSc students considered the threat of rising sea levels and the solution of floating cities. This way they acquainted themselves very good for their next two years of study at the TU Delft. Download the poster of group one by (right) clicking the underlined link. The poster is a pretty result of a few introductory summerschool weeks.

Rising sea levels are a threat to London, but also chance for young architects. Architecture student Anthony Lau won the student prize for sustainable design with a facinating poster. The prize was awarded by the Royal Institute of Architects. You can download his facinating poster here.