IBA’s Mobile Floating Architecture Competition for the Lusatian Lakelands in Brandenburg (Germany) had also an entry from our Ecoboot friend and architect Anthony Lau. Anthony now works at an architectural practice in London called Tasou Associates and he designed the house with his colleagues Simon Graham and James Murray. Although not one of the winners of the competition, the design reached the final rounds of judging and we are proud to present their design as it shows a floating house that refers directly to the post industrial mining landscape. Their concept for the competition was to design an object that had both man made and natural qualities. They wanted the Mobile Floating Architecture (MFA) to be comfortable in a variety of environments and geographies, whilst considering its impact on the landscape in both an inhabited and unoccupied state. The designers took (mandatory) environmental concerns as leading principle, as can be read in this PDF file . The design focused on both the appearance of the MFA as an individual object and as part of a ‘communal cluster’.
They envisage the MFA as being analogous to a rock floating above the water, very much in harmony with the lake it is sited on. The form is irregular, derived from their intention to create a rugged and natural appearance. It’s sculpted form rises out of the water at the rear like a shallow hill, with a carved opening to the front. The folded shell is made of Corten steel, which has a varied texture, a deep rock-like red colour, and a natural layer of iron oxide protection. This sits on a simple waterproof concrete base, only just visible above the waterline.
The MFA is also a landscape in its own right, as owners are encouraged to soften and naturalise the form by growing native plants on the roof. This acts as an undulating garden, whilst decks fold out at the front to offer more sheltered amenity space and at the rear to create a private shore-line for the occupant.
The MFA is designed to be accessible from any side. This allows it to be moored in any direction, to make the most of a particular view or perhaps to follow the sun as the day progresses. The designers envisage a series of floating ‘hubs’ were people can moor around a shared platform for socialising, but the MFA is also designed to suit a more solitary experience.
A strong aim of the designers was to give elements dual functions to make the most efficient use of available space. Examples of this include the front deck, which is shaded with an adjustable solar panel canopy, and protrudes into the lake like a jetty. The deck holds an inflatable solar heated pool, which can also be used as a dinghy. When not in use the deck folds up, protecting the windows and creating a more robust floating object.
Internally the space is split level, with the bedroom area at the rear and open plan living space at the front. The bedroom layout is purposefully flexible, to allow a single large bedroom at the rear or two rooms with double or bunk beds. The living space is deliberately generous and open plan, allowing a variety of layouts and functions. The use of glass at the top of the partitions allows views through the MFA from back to front. Finishes are simple Beech faced plywood to all surfaces, giving the interior a homogenous ‘cave like’ feel and allowing views of the landscape through the large glazed openings to dominate.
The MFA is an object that grows changes and responds to its surroundings and encourages its users to interact with the landscape. It aims to complement the natural environment through a responsive and progressive architecture.
For more information contact Anthony Lau at Tasou Associates in London or visit their website www.tasou.co.uk
The Tasou Associates team members include: Simon Graham, James Murray, Anthony Lau, Tom Rutt, Peter Kidger and Jonathan Duffet. Nimbus Rose Energy Consultants produced the energy and supply & waste concepts.