THERE ARE BASICALLY TWO TYPES OF VERY LARGE FLOATING STRUCTURES (VLFSS), NAMELY THE SEMISUBMERSIBLE-TYPE AND THE PONTOON-TYPE.

SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE TYPE FLOATING STRUCTURES ARE RAISED ABOVE THE SEA LEVEL USING COLUMN TUBES OR BALLAST STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS TO MINIMIZE THE EFFECTSOF WAVES WHILE MAINTAINING A CONSTANT BUOYANCY FORCE. THUS THEY CAN REDUCE THE WAVE INDUCED MOTIONS AND ARE THEREFORE SUITABLY DEPLOYED IN HIGH SEAS WITH LARGE WAVES. FLOATING OIL DRILLING PLATFORMS USED FOR DRILLING FOR AND PRODUCTION OF OIL AND GAS ARE TYPICAL EXAMPLES. WHEN THESE SEMI-SUBMERSIBLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SEABED USING VERTICAL TETHERS WITH HIGH PRETENSION AS PROVIDED BY ADDITIONAL BUOYANCY OF THE STRUCTURE, THEY ARE REFERRED TO AS TENSION-LEG PLATFORMS.

IN CONTRAST, PONTOON-TYPE FLOATING STRUCTURES LIE ON THE SEA LEVEL LIKE A GIANT PLATE FLOATING ON WATER. PONTOON-TYPE FLOATING STRUCTURES ARE SUITABLE FOR USE IN ONLY CALM WATERS, OFTEN INSIDE A COVE OR A LAGOON AND NEARTHE SHORE LINE. LARGE PONTOON-TYPE FLOATING STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN TERMED MEGA-FLOATS BY JAPANESE ENGINEERS. AS A GENERAL RULE OF THUMB, MEGA-FLOATS ARE FLOATING STRUCTURES WITH AT LEAST ONE OF ITS LENGTH DIMENSIONS GREATER THAN 60 M.

REFERRING TO FIG. 1, A MEGA-FLOAT SYSTEM CONSISTS OF A (A) VERY LARGE PONTOON FLOATING STRUCTURE, (B) MOORING FACILITY TO KEEP THE FLOATING STRUCTURE IN PLACE,(C) AN ACCESS BRIDGE OR FLOATING ROAD TO GET TO THE FLOATING STRUCTURE FROM SHORE, AND (D) A BREAKWATER (USUALLY NEEDED IF THE SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT IS GREATER THAN 4 M) FOR REDUCING WAVE FORCES IMPACTING THE FLOATING STRUCTURE.

WHY VLFS ? 1.VIRTUALLY NO INFLUENCE OF EARTHQUAKE.2.FEW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON OCEAN CURRENTSAND MARINE ECO-SYSTEMS.3.RELATIVELY LOWER CONSTRUCTION COST AND SHORTER CONSTRUCTION PERIOD INDEPENDENT OF WATER DEPTH OR SOIL CONDITION OF SEA BED.

A LITTLE ABOUT BUOYANCY

IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND HOW A BOAT CAN FLOAT IN WATER WE MUST FIRST GO OVER ONE OF THE PRINCIPLES BEHIND SUCH A FEAT: BUOYANCY. THIS PRINCIPLE IN PHYSICS WAS DISCOVERED BY THE MATHEMATICIAN ARCHIMEDES ABOUT 2,000 YEARS AGO, SO IT HAS BEEN TAUGHT AND UNDERSTOOD FOR SOME TIME NOW. THE BASICS OF BUOYANCY INVOLVE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WEIGHT OF THE OBJECT IN QUESTION, IN THIS CASE A BOAT, AND THE WEIGHT OF THE WATER IT DISPLACES. IF THE OBJECT WEIGHS MORE THAN THE WATER IT

DISPLACES, IT IS GOING TO SINK TO THE BOTTOM. THIS OBJECT IS NEGATIVELY BUOYANT. IF THE WEIGHT OF THE OBJECT IS THE SAME AS THE WEIGHT OF THE WATER IT DISPLACES, IT IS GOING TO HOVER SUSPENDED IN THE WATER. THIS IS CALLED NEUTRAL BUOYANCY. FINALLY, IF THE WEIGHT OF THE OBJECT IS LESS THAN THE WEIGHT OF THE WATER IT DISPLACES, SUCH AS IN THE CASE OF A BOAT, IT IS GOING TO FLOAT. IT IS POSITIVELY BUOYANT.

A LITTLE ABOUT DISPLACEMENT

NOW THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT BUOYANCY IS, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WATER DISPLACEMENT, SINCE IT HAS SO MUCH TO DO WITH BUOYANCY AND THE FLOATING OF A BOAT. ARCHIMEDES IS SAID TO HAVE DISCOVERED THIS SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLE AS HE LOWERED HIMSELF INTO A BATHTUB ONE DAY. NO DOUBT YOU HAVE SEEN IT YOURSELF. WHEN YOU SIT IN A BATHTUB, OR LOWER ANYTHING INTO WATER, THE WATER LEVEL RISES, BECAUSE SOME OF IT IS BEING DISPLACED. AN OBJECT WILL ALWAYS DISPLACE AN AMOUNT OF WATER EQUAL TO ITS WEIGHT OR ITS VOLUME, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. THIS PRINCIPLE, COUPLED WITH THE PRINCIPLE OF BUOYANCY, REVEALS HOW BOATS ARE MADE TO FLOAT.

READ MORE: HTTP://WWW.EHOW.COM/HOW-DOES_4565078_A-BOATFLOAT.HTML#IXZZ2BJRTOKO4 HTTP://ISSUU.COM/ASHBK/DOCS/AMHIBIOUS_ARCHITECTURE

HTTP://ISSUU.COM/ASHBK/DOCS/FLEXIBLE_ARCHITECTURE

HTTP://WWW.DRIJVENDPAVILJOEN.NL HTTP://KCUBBIN.TRIPOD.COM/ID24.HTML

THERE ARE VERY FEW URBAN DESIGN SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS HOUSING THE INEVITABLE TIDE OF DISPLACED PEOPLE THAT COULD ARISE AS OCEANS SWELL UNDER GLOBAL WARMING. CERTAINLY NONE ARE AS SPECTACULAR AS THIS ONE. THE LILYPAD, BY VINCENT CALLEBAUT, IS A CONCEPT FOR A COMPLETELY SELF-SUFFICIENT FLOATING CITY INTENDED TO PROVIDE SHELTER FOR FUTURE CLIMATE CHANGE REFUGEES. THE INTENT OF THE CONCEPT ITSELF IS LAUDABLE, BUT IT IS CALLEBAUT’S PHENOMENAL DESIGN THAT HAS CAPTURED OUR IMAGINATION.

BIOMIMICRY WAS CLEARLY THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE DESIGN. THE LILYPAD, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE A WATERLILY, IS INTENDED TO BE A ZERO EMISSION CITY AFLOAT IN THE OCEAN. THROUGH A NUMBER OF TECHNOLOGIES (SOLAR, WIND, TIDAL, BIOMASS), IT IS ENVISIONED THAT THE PROJECT WOULD BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY PRODUCE IT’S OWN ENERGY, BUT BE ABLE TO PROCESS CO2 IN THE ATMOSPHERE AND ABSORB IT INTO ITS TITANIUM DIOXIDE SKIN.

EACH OF THESE FLOATING CITIES ARE DESIGNED TO HOLD APPROXIMATELY AROUND 50,000 PEOPLE. A MIXED TERRAIN MAN-MADE LANDSCAPE, PROVIDED BY AN ARTIFICIAL LAGOON AND THREE RIDGES, CREATE A DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE INHABITANTS. EACH LILYPAD IS INTENDED TO BE EITHER NEAR A COAST, OR FLOATING AROUND IN THE OCEAN, TRAVELING FROM THE EQUATOR TO THE NORTHERN SEAS, ACCORDING TO WHERE THE GULF STREAM TAKES IT.

THE PROJECT ISN’T EVEN CLOSE TO HAPPENING ANYTIME SOON, BUT THERE IS VALUE IN FUTURE FORWARD DESIGNS LIKE THE LILYPAD. THEY INSPIRE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, WHICH AT SOME POINT, MAY ACTUALLY PROVIDE A REAL SOLUTION TO THE CLIMATE CHANGE PROBLEM.

MARSHALL SAVAGE, IN HIS BOOK THE MILLENNIAL PROJECT, SUGGESTED THAT A FLOATING CITY COULD USE OTEC (OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION) PLANTS TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY. OTEC’S INPUTS ARE WARM SURFACE WATER (AS A SIDE EFFECT, THE SURROUNDING OCEAN WOULD BE COOLED) AND COLD WATER FROM NEAR THE SEA FLOOR (USEFUL FOR COOLING THE CITY ITSELF). THE OUTPUTS ARE THE ELECTRICITY AND COOL SEA WATER CONTAINING

NUTRIENTS BROUGHT UP FROM THE OCEAN BOTTOM; THE LATTER CAN BE USED TO FEED MARICULTURE-GROWN SEA LIFE WHICH CAN BE EATEN OR EXPORTED.

THAT’S TWO OF THE CONCERNS PEOPLE HAVE EXPRESSED HERE (FEEDING THE OCCUPANTS AND QUALITY OF THE SURROUNDING SEAS). STORM SURGE AND TSUNAMI SAFETY CAN BE DEALT WITH BY DESIGNING THE FLOATS TO DOUBLE AS WAVE ENERGY GENERATORS (I FORGET WHO CAME UP WITH THAT IDEA, SORRY).

VINCENT CALLEBAUT CALLED THIS PROJECT “LILYPAD“, BUT THIS ECOTECTURAL MARVEL IS ALSO CALLED AS “FLOATING ECOPOLIS FOR CLIMATE REFUGEES”. THE WHOLE STRUCTURE IS COVERED IN GREEN WALLS AND ROOFS, THE TOP PORTION COVERED IN GRASSES WITH THE INNER PORTION FEATURING A PALM OASIS, AND THE UNDER PORTION SERVING AS A BED FOR NATURAL SEA PLANKTONS AND OCEANIC PLANTS. FINALLY IF YOU WERE ALREADY PLANNING TO RESERVE A PLACE TO THIS LUXURIOUS FUTURE RETREAT STAY CALM, BECAUSE VINCENT CALLEBAUT HOPES THAT “FLOATING ECOPOLIS FOR CLIMATE REFUGEES” WILL MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM DESIGN TO REALITY AROUND THE YEAR 2100.

LILYPAD WAS DESIGNED FOR THE OCEANS 2008 CONFERENCE TO MEET THE FOUR MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AS SEEN BY THE ORGANIZATION OF ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT (OECD): CLIMATE CHANGE, THE LACK OF FRESH WATER, BIODIVERSITY, AND HEALTH.

CALLEBAUT PAINTS A RATHER GRIM PICTURE OF THE FUTURE WHERE MANY OF TODAY'S MAJOR LAND MASSES ARE UNDERWATER BY THE YEAR 2100, FORCING THOSE PEOPLE CURRENTLY LIVING THERE TO TAKE TO THE WATER TO SURVIVE. LILYPAD IS DESIGNED TO MEET THEIR NEEDS INCLUDING FOOD, FRESH DRINKING WATER, AND EVEN AN EXTENSIVE ARRAY OF ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES (THE SPECIFICS ARE UNDERSTANDABLY VAGUE). IT IS ALSO DESIGNED TO FOLLOW THE NATURAL MIGRATORY FLOWS OF THE OCEANS, REMAINING NEAR THE COASTLINE AT ALL TIMES BUT TRAVELING EXTENSIVELY NORTH AND SOUTH AS GUIDED BY THE GULF STREAM OR LABRADOR CURRENTS.

IN ADDITION TO HUMAN INHABITANTS, EACH LILYPAD WILL SUPPORT A WIDE RANGE OF FLORA AND FAUNA CENTERED AROUND A CENTRAL LAGOON. THE LAGOON BALLASTS THE CITY, PREVENTING IT FROM OVERTURNING, AND ALSO PURIFIES WATER FOR DRINKING (THE DETAILS OF EXACTLY HOW THIS WORKS HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED). A NETWORK OF STREETS AND PATHWAYS FLOW OUTWARD FROM THE LAGOON, FOLLOWING THE CURVY PETAL STRUCTURES AND BLENDING IN WITH THE NATURAL FLOW OF THE STRUCTURE.

LILYPAD INTEGRATES A WIDE VARIETY OF RENEWABLE ENERGIES INCLUDING SOLAR, THERMAL, PHOTOVOLTAIC, WIND, HYDRAULIC, TIDAL ENERGIES, AND OTHERS. IT RECYCLES ITS OWN CARBON DIOXIDE AND WASTE MATERIALS, INCLUDES THE AFOREMENTIONED WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM, AND UTILIZES AQUACULTURE AND OTHER ADVANCED FARMING TECHNIQUES TO GROW ENOUGH FOOD FOR ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS. THE SKIN IS MADE OF POLYESTER FIBER COVERED BY A LAYER OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE (TIO2) WHICH REACTS TO ULTRAVIOLET RAYS, ENABLING ABSORPTION OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION.

THE LILYPAD FLOATING CITIES OR OTHERS LIKE IT ARE FAR FROM A REALITY, BUT THEY REPRESENT A REAL MOVEMENT TO SOLVE ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS BY MIMICKING NATURE AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE. THE INFORMATION CURRENTLY PROVIDED IS SKETCHY, ALONG THE LINES OF AN EARLY PAPER PROTOTYPE, BUT THAT PAPER PROTOTYPE LOOKS FANTASTIC. FUNCTION MAY TRUMP FORM ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT IT DOESN'T HURT TO LOOK PRETTY AND LILYPAD CERTAINLY MANAGES THAT VERY WELL.

TFOT ALREADY COVERED SEVERAL FLOATING CITY CONCEPTS INCLUDING FREEDOM SHIP INTERNATIONAL 100,000 FLOATING CITY WITH AN AIRPORT AS WELL SEASCAPE THE CRUISING ISLAND. 

FLOATING   BUILDINGS THE BASIC CHARACTERISTIC OF FLOATING HOMES IS THAT THE BUILDING IS NOT SUPPORTED BY A FIRM

FOUNDATION, BUT FLOATS ON WATER (FIGURE). TRADITIONAL FOUNDATIONS ARE THEREFORE NOT REQUIRED. THE

POSITION OF A FLOATING HOME IS PERMANENTLY FIXED IN A HORIZONTAL DIRECTION, WHILE IT CAN FLEXIBLY

FOLLOW VERTICAL VARIATIONS IN WATER LEVEL. A FLOATING HOME IS RECOGNIZED (UNDER DUTCH LAW) AS

IMMOVABLE REAL ESTATE, BECAUSE A BUILDING’S POSITION IS FIXED IN HORIZONTAL DIRECTION.

THE BASE OF A FLOATING HOME CONSISTS OF A FLOATING MECHANISM THAT SECURES THE BUILDING’S BUOYANCY.

THE BOTTOM LEVEL OF THE ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE AT LEAST 1 METER FROM THE WATER BOTTOM IN

ORDER TO MAINTAIN FAVOURABLE WATER QUALITY CONDITIONS. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT A FLOATING BUILDING

NEVER TOUCHES FIRM GROUND, BECAUSE THE CONSTRUCTION IS NOT DESIGNED FOR SUCH CONDITIONS. THE

FLOATING MECHANISM THAT IS POSITIONED AT THE BASIS OF THE FLOATING STRUCTURE CAN CONSIST OF HIGH-

DENSITY EPS (EXPANDED POLY-STYRENE) OR A HOLLOW, CONCRETE STRUCTURE. HOLLOW SPACE CAN BE USED FOR

STORAGE OF LIGHT GOODS. FLOATING HOMES CAN HAVE TERRACES THAT CAN BE REGARDED AS A SMALL-SCALE

VERSION OF TRADITIONAL GARDENS. INFRASTRUCTURE CONNECTIONS TO FLOATING BUILDINGS SHOULD BE

DESIGNED SO AT TO BE ABLE FLEXIBLY COPE WITH EXPECTED WATER LEVEL VARIATIONS.

FIGURE: FLOATING HOME PRINCIPLE

CASE STUDYMEGA FLOATS (HTTP://KCUBBIN.TRIPOD.COM/ID24.HTML)

A FLOATING AIRPORT IS AN AIRPORT BUILT AND SITUATED ON A VERY LARGE FLOATING STRUCTURE (VLFS)

LOCATED MANY MILES OUT AT SEA UTILIZING A FLOTATION TYPE OF DEVICE OR DEVICES SUCH

AS PNEUMATIC STABILIZED PLATFORM (PSP) TECHNOLOGY.

AS THE POPULATION INCREASES AND LAND BECOMES MORE EXPENSIVE AND SCARCE, VERY LARGE FLOATING

STRUCTURES (VLFS) SUCH AS FLOATING AIRPORTS COULD HELP SOLVE LAND USE, POLLUTION AND AIRCRAFT

NOISEISSUES.

CONTENTS

  [HIDE] 

1   EARLY HISTORY

2   DESCRIPTION

3   MODERN FLOATING AIRPORT PROJECTS

4   REFERENCES

5   EXTERNAL LINKS

EARLY HISTORY[EDIT SOURCE | EDIT BETA ]

THE FIRST DISCUSSION OF A FLOATING AIRPORT WAS FOR TRANS-ATLANTIC FLIGHTS. AT THAT TIME A

PASSENGER AIRCRAFT CAPABLE OF MAKING THE TRIP COULD BE BUILT BUT BECAUSE OF THE MASSIVE NEED

FOR FUEL FOR THE FLIGHT, IT HAD A LIMITED PAYLOAD. AN ARTICLE APPEARED IN JANUARY 1930 ISSUE

OF POPULAR MECHANICS IN WHICH A MODEL OF A FLOATING AIRPORT LOCATED IN THE ATLANTIC WAS

PROPOSED. TO MAKE SAFE FLIGHT POSSIBLE WITH THE AVIATION TECHNOLOGY OF THAT TIME, IT CALLED FOR

EIGHT SUCH AIRPORTS IN THE ATLANTIC. BUT UNLIKE FUTURE FLOATING AIRPORT IDEAS WHICH WERE FREE

FLOATING, THIS 1930 CONCEPT HAD A FLOATING AIRPORT PLATFORM, BUT WITH STABILIZER LEGS WHICH

PREVENT THE FLIGHT DECK FROM PITCHING AND ROLLING, SIMILAR IN CONCEPT TO SOME OF TODAY'S OFF

SHORE OIL RIGS. THE COST OF ESTABLISHING EIGHT SUCH FLOATING AIRPORTS IN 1930 WAS ESTIMATED AT

APPROXIMATELY $100,000 DOLLARS [1] THE IDEA OF FLOATING AIRPORTS WAS FORGOTTEN UNTIL IN 1935 THE

FAMOUS FRENCH AVIATION PILOT AND BUILDER BLERIOT GAVE ONE OF HIS LAST INTERVIEWS IN WHICH HE

MADE THE CASE FOR FLOATING AIRPORTS IN MID-ATLANTIC; HE CALLED THEM SEADROMES AS A SOLUTION

TO ECONOMICAL TRANS-ATLANTIC PASSENGER FLIGHTS.[2]

DESCRIPTION[EDIT SOURCE | EDIT BETA ]

IN THEORY, ISSUES AND PROBLEMS OF LAND-BASED AIRPORTS COULD BE MINIMIZED BY LOCATING AIRPORTS

SEVERAL MILES OFF THE COAST. TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS WOULD BE OVER WATER, NOT OVER POPULATED

AREAS, THEREBY ELIMINATING NOISE POLLUTION AND REDUCING RISKS OF AIRCRAFT CRASHES TO THE LAND-

LOCKED POPULATION.

SINCE LITTLE OF THE OCEAN'S SURFACE IS CURRENTLY BEING USED FOR HUMAN ACTIVITY, GROWTH AND

ALTERATIONS IN CONFIGURATION WOULD BE RELATIVELY EASY TO ACHIEVE WITH MINIMAL IMPACT TO THE

ENVIRONMENT OR TO LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO WOULD UTILIZE THE AIRPORT. WATER TAXIS OR OTHER HIGH

SPEED SURFACE VESSELS WOULD BE A PART OF AN OFFSHORE MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT COULD CONNECT

THE FLOATING AIRPORT TO COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND MINIMIZE TRAFFIC ISSUES.

A FLOATING STRUCTURE, SUCH AS A FLOATING AIRPORT, IS THEORISED TO HAVE LESS IMPACT ON THE

ENVIRONMENT THAN THE LAND-BASED ALTERNATIVE. IT WOULD NOT REQUIRE MUCH, IF ANY, DREDGING OR

MOVING OF MOUNTAINS OR CLEARING OF GREEN SPACE AND THE FLOATING STRUCTURE PROVIDES A REEF-

LIKE ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO MARINE LIFE. IN THEORY, WAVE ENERGY COULD BE HARNESSED, USING

THE STRUCTURE TO CONVERT WAVES INTO ENERGY TO HELP SUSTAIN THE ENERGY NEEDS OF THE AIRPORT.

MODERN FLOATING AIRPORT PROJECTS[EDIT SOURCE | EDIT BETA ]

IN 2000, THE JAPANESE MINISTRY OF LAND, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND TRANSPORT SPONSORED THE

CONSTRUCTION OF MEGA-FLOAT,[3] A 1000 METRE FLOATING RUNWAY IN TOKYO BAY. AFTER CONDUCTING

SEVERAL REAL AIRCRAFT LANDINGS, THE MINISTRY CONCLUDED THAT FLOATING RUNWAYS' HYDRO-ELASTIC

RESPONSE WOULD NOT AFFECT AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS, INCLUDING PRECISION INSTRUMENT APPROACHES IN

A PROTECTED WATERWAY SUCH AS A LARGE BAY. THE STRUCTURE HAS BEEN DISMANTLED AND IS NO

LONGER IN USE.

THE PNEUMATIC STABILIZED PLATFORM (PSP) WAS PROPOSED AS A MEANS FOR CONSTRUCTING A NEW

FLOATING AIRPORT FOR SAN DIEGO IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN, AT LEAST THREE MILES OFF THE TIP OF POINT

LOMA. HOWEVER, THIS PROPOSED DESIGN WAS REJECTED IN OCTOBER, 2003 DUE TO VERY HIGH COST, THE

DIFFICULTY IN ACCESSING SUCH AN AIRPORT, THE DIFFICULTY IN TRANSPORTING JET FUEL, ELECTRICITY,

WATER, AND GAS TO THE STRUCTURE, FAILURE TO ADDRESS SECURITY CONCERNS SUCH AS A BOMB BLAST,

INADEQUATE ROOM FOR HIGH-SPEED EXITS AND TAXIWAYS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.[4]

THE FLOAT AT MARINA BAYFROM WIKIPEDIA, THE FREE ENCYCLOPEDIA

THE FLOAT AT MARINA BAY

LOCATION MARINA BAY, SINGAPORE

COORDINATES1°17′18″N   103°51′32″E COORDINATES : 

1°17′18″N   103°51′32″E

BROKE

GROUND

2006

OPENED 2007

OWNER SINGAPORE SPORTS COUNCIL

OPERATOR SINGAPORE SPORTS COUNCIL

SURFACE STEEL

ARCHITECT DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

AGENCY

CAPACITY 30,000

TENANTS

SINGAPORE SPORTS COUNCIL

2010 SUMMER YOUTH OLYMPICS

THE FLOAT@MARINA BAY IS THE DARK QUADRILATERAL AT FOREGROUND RIGHT OF THIS VIEW OF MARINA BAY FROM

THESINGAPORE FLYER.

THE 30,000-CAPACITY GRANDSTAND AND FLOATING PLATFORM OF THE FLOAT@MARINA BAY, WITH THE SINGAPORE FLYER IN THE

BACKGROUND.

THE FLOAT@MARINA BAY VIEWED FROM THE HELIX BRIDGE.

THE FLOAT AT MARINA BAY, STYLISED AS THE FLOAT@MARINA BAY AND ALSO KNOWN AS THE MARINA BAY

FLOATING PLATFORM (CHINESE: 滨海湾浮动舞台, MALAY: PENTAS TERAPUNG TELUK MARINA, TAMIL: மரீனா� பே�

ம�தக்கும் பேமடை ), IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST FLOATING STAGE.[1] IT IS LOCATED ON THE WATERS OF THE MARINA

RESERVOIR, IN MARINA BAY, SINGAPORE.

MADE ENTIRELY OF STEEL, THE FLOATING PLATFORM ON MARINA BAY MEASURES 120 METRES LONG AND 83

METRES WIDE, WHICH IS 5% LARGER THAN THESOCCER FIELD AT THE NATIONAL STADIUM.[1] THE PLATFORM CAN

BEAR UP TO 1,070 TONNES, EQUIVALENT TO THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF 9,000 PEOPLE, 200 TONNES OF STAGE PROPS AND

THREE 30-TONNE MILITARY VEHICLES. THE GALLERY AT THE STADIUM HAS A SEATING CAPACITY OF 30,000 PEOPLE.[2]

[3]

THE FLOATING STADIUM WILL BE A VENUE FOR EVENTS ON THE WATERS OF MARINA BAY FOR FIVE YEARS FROM

2007. THESE EVENTS MAY INCLUDE SPORTS,CONCERTS, EXHIBITIONS, AND THE

ARTS AND CULTURAL PERFORMANCES. THE NATIONAL DAY PARADE WILL ALSO BE HELD ANNUALLY FOR FIVE

YEARS AT THE STADIUM, WHICH IS MEANT TO BE AN INTERIM OR TEMPORARY VENUE IN PLACE OF THE NATIONAL

STADIUM UNTIL THE SINGAPORE SPORTS HUB AT KALLANG IS COMPLETED IN 2014 FOR THE SINGAPORE SOUTHEAST

ASIAN GAMES IN 2015 AND THE FUTURE NATIONAL DAY PARADE.[1]

THIS STADIUM IS PART OF THE MARINA BAY STREET CIRCUIT TURNS 17 AND 18, WHICH HOSTED THE FORMULA

ONE SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX. MORE FAMOUSLY, IT WAS WHERE NELSON PIQUET, JR. CRASHED HIS CAR WHICH LED

TO THE RENAULT FORMULA ONE CRASH CONTROVERSY.

FOLLOWING SINGAPORE'S SUCCESSFUL BID TO HOST THE INAUGURAL 2010 SUMMER YOUTH OLYMPICS, THE

FLOATING STADIUM WAS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT DURING THE GAMES, AS THE VENUE FOR THE

GAMES' OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES.[4]

CONTENTS

  [HIDE] 

1   HISTORY

2   CONSTRUCTION

3   EVENTS

4   SEE ALSO

5   NOTES AND REFERENCES

6   EXTERNAL LINKS

HISTORY[EDIT SOURCE | EDIT BETA ]

THE IDEA OF A FLOATING PLATFORM WAS CONCEIVED BY THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL DAY

PARADE, 2007. IN 2004, COLONEL TEO JING SIONG, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, WAS ASKED TO SOURCE FOR A

NEW VENUE FOR THE NATIONAL DAY PARADE AS THE NATIONAL STADIUM WOULD BE DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY

FOR THE NEW SINGAPORE SPORTS HUB. TEO HAD CONSIDERED JALAN BESAR STADIUM, THE SINGAPORE TURF

CLUB ANDMARINA SOUTH BEFORE SETTLING ON MARINA BAY, PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE CITY SKYLINE THAT

WOULD FORM A BACKDROP FOR THE PARADE. THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT EVALUATED THAT THE TEMPORARY

STADIUM IS A COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION IN LIEU OF THE CLOSURE OF THE NATIONAL STADIUM THAT IS UNDER

RENOVATION FOR 8 YEARS.[1][5]

IN 2005, TEO'S COMMITTEE WORKED WITH THE URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (URA) AND THE SINGAPORE

SPORTS COUNCIL ON THE DESIGN OF THE FLOATING PLATFORM, WHICH COULD ALSO BE USED TO HOST OTHER

MAJOR EVENTS.[5]

AFTER THE DESIGN WAS FINALISED, THE CONTRACTOR, SEMBCORP MARINE,[3][6] STARTED CONSTRUCTION OF THE

FLOATING PLATFORM IN MARCH 2006. THE STAGE TOOK 13 MONTHS TO BUILD, AND BY APRIL 2007, THE PLATFORM

AND SEATING GALLERY WERE COMPLETED.[5]

CONSTRUCTION[EDIT SOURCE | EDIT BETA ]

MANY CONSIDERATIONS WERE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT DURING THE DESIGN PHASE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE

FLOATING PLATFORM. THE DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY, THE PLATFORM'S CHIEF PLANNER AND

DEVELOPER, HAD TO KEEP IN MIND NOT JUST ITS SIZE AND THE LOAD IT COULD BEAR, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE

THE STRUCTURE CAN BE RELOCATED AND RECONFIGURED TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF DIFFERENT EVENTS.[3]

AS A RESULT, THE PLATFORM IS MADE OF SMALLER PLATFORMS OF PONTOONS, EACH COMPRISING HUNDREDS OF

PARTS. 200 PONTOONS WERE ENVISIONED, BUT A UNIQUE SYSTEM OF CONNECTORS ALLOWED THIS NUMBER TO BE

REDUCED TO 15, WHICH INTERLOCK LIKE A JIGSAW PUZZLE. THESE TOOK ONE MONTH TO ASSEMBLE. THE

CONNECTORS WERE DESIGNED TO BE LIGHT BUT ROBUST.[3]

SIX PYLONS FIXED INTO THE SEABED ACT AS THE STRUCTURE'S FOUNDATION. HEAVY-DUTY RUBBER ROLLERS WERE

USED TO GENTLY GUIDE THE STAGE VERTICALLY TO KEEP IT FROM BEING ROCKED BY TIDES AND CURRENTS. THREE

LINKWAYS, WHICH CONNECT THE FLOATING PLATFORM TO THE LAND, HAVE SPECIAL INTEGRATED JOINTS TO KEEP

THEM STEADY.[3]

THE FLOATING PLATFORM ALSO HAD TO BE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING TO FIT THE SCENIC BACKDROP OF THE BELT

OF HOTELS IN MARINA CENTRE. THIS LIMITED THE HEIGHT OF THE SEATING GALLERY. THE EXISTING STRUCTURES

AND THE AREA'S DEVELOPMENT PLANS CAPPED THE NUMBER OF SEATS AT 30,000.[3]

THE PLATFORM HAS BEEN EQUIPPED WITH NUMEROUS INNOVATIVE FEATURES, LIKE AN

INTERNAL DRAINAGE SYSTEM, CABLING STRUCTURES AND LIGHTNING RODS.[3]

EVENTS[EDIT SOURCE | EDIT BETA ]

THE FIRST MAJOR EVENT THAT WAS HELD AT THE FLOATING STADIUM IS THE NATIONAL DAY PARADE OF 2007.[7] THIS

WAS FOLLOWED BY THE SINGAPORE FIREWORKS CELEBRATIONS HELD ON 17 AND 18 AUGUST 2007.[8]

ON 25 AUGUST 2007, THE STADIUM WAS USED TO LAUNCH THE SIX-WEEK-LONG WATERFEST SINGAPORE 2007, WHICH

SHOWCASES STUNTS AND PERFORMANCES BY A WATER SKI TEAM AND WAKEBOARDPROFESSIONALS.[9] ON 2

SEPTEMBER 2007, THE PLATFORM WAS THE START AND FINISH POINT FOR THE AVIVA IRONMAN 70.3

SINGAPORE TRIATHLON.[1][10]

FROM 15 SEPTEMBER 2007 TO 16 APRIL 2008, THE FLOATING STADIUM WAS CLOSED FOR FORMULA ONE WORKS IN

PREPARATION FOR THE SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX IN SEPTEMBER 2008. THE STADIUM WAS NOT AVAILABLE

FOR RENTAL UNTIL AFTER THE RACE.[1] IN AUGUST 2008, THE NATIONAL DAY PARADE WAS HELD AT THE STADIUM.

THE URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY IS EXPLORING THE IDEA OF MAKING THE 30,000-SEAT GALLERY

AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO VIEW FIREWORKS DURING THE NEW YEAR'S EVE COUNTDOWN AT MARINA BAY IN

DECEMBER 2007. THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN ACCESS THE PLATFORM WHEN IT IS NOT BOOKED FOR EVENTS.[1] THE

MARINA BAY SINGAPORE COUNTDOWN ALSO USED THIS STADIUM IN DECEMBER 2008, DECEMBER 2009, DECEMBER

2010, DECEMBER 2011 AND DECEMBER 2012 (EACH OF THE 31 DECEMBER).

IN NOVEMBER 2008, THE SINGAPORE CUP FINAL BETWEEN SAFFC AND WOODLANDS WELLINGTON FC WAS SUPPOSED

TO TAKE PLACE AT THE STADIUM. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RELATING TO THE METAL BEAMS CASTING A SHADOW ON

THE PITCH FORCED THE MATCH TO BE PLAYED AT THE JALAN BESAR STADIUM INSTEAD. THE FIRST FOOTBALL

MATCH TO BE PLAYED ON THE PLATFORM WAS A SUNDAY LEAGUE ESPZEN AMATEUR MATCH BETWEEN TUAN

GEMUK ATHLETIC AND VNNTU FC.[11]

IN AUGUST 2010, THE STADIUM WAS THE MAIN STADIUM FOR THE 2010 SUMMER YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES. ON 2

OCTOBER, THE STADIUM BECAME THE VENUE FOR THE GRADUATION PARADE OF THE RECRUITS FROM

THESINGAPORE ARMED FORCES BASIC MILITARY TRAINING CENTRE

ON NOVEMBER 23, 2012, S.M. ENTERTAINMENT ARTISTS INCLUDING KANGTA, BOA, TVXQ, SUPER JUNIOR, GIRLS'

GENERATION, SHINEE, F(X), AND EXO PERFORMED TO A CROWD OF 18,000 FANS AS PART OF THEIRSMTOWN LIVE

WORLD TOUR III CONCERT.[12]

THE STADIUM WILL HOST 1 MATCH AT THE 2014 AFF SUZUKI CUP.

THE FLOAT@MARINA BAY'S GRANDSTAND

FLOATING PAVILION ROTTERDAM: SUSTAINABLE DOMES

TOPIC(S) SOLAR ENERGY, WATER RECYCLING, ZERO EMISSION

DESIGNER DELTASYNC & PUBLICDOMAIN ARCHITECTS

CLIENT CITY OF ROTTERDAM

LOCATION RIJNHAVEN, ROTTERDAM (ZUID-HOLLAND), NETHERLANDS

YEAR 2010

GREEN FACTS & AWARDS- CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENT- HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS RELY ON SOLAR ENERGY AND SURFACE WATER- WATER RECYCLING SYSTEM

DESCRIPTIONIN THE RIJNHAVEN IN ROTTERDAM, AN EYE-CATCHING STRUCTURE HAS BEEN ERECTED: A COMPLEX CONSISTING OF THREE FLOATING HALF-SPHERES. THE STRUCTURE STANDS 12 METERS TALL, WITH A TOTAL FLOOR AREA THE SIZE OF FOUR TENNIS COURTS, AND IS FULLY RELOCATABLE. THE PAVILION CONSISTS OF THREE INTERLINKED HALF-SPHERES, THE LARGEST OF WHICH WILL BE 24 METERS IN DIAMETER. THE FLOOR AREA WILL BE 46 BY 24 METERS.

THE FLOATING PAVILION IS REMARKABLE NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF ITS SHAPE, CONSISTING OF THREE FLOATING HALF-SPHERES, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF ITS CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENT, INNOVATIVE, SUSTAINABLE, AND FLEXIBLE QUALITIES. A PILOT AND A CATALYST FOR FLOATING CONSTRUCTION EFFORTS IN ROTTERDAM, THE FLOATING PAVILION WILL REMAIN MOORED IN THE RIJNHAVEN UNTIL 2015, AFTER WHICH IT WILL BE SHIPPED OFF ELSEWHERE, TO BE DEPLOYED IN ANOTHER PART OF STADSHAVENS (CITY PORTS). AS THE WATER LEVEL RISES, THE FLOATING PAVILION WILL AUTOMATICALLY RISE ACCORDINGLY. THIS MAKES THE PAVILION AN EXAMPLE OF CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENT BUILDING, A TECHNOLOGY FOR WHICH DEMAND IS GROWING STRONGLY IN ROTTERDAM. THE INNOVATIVE PAVILION RESPONDS TO THE COLLECTIVE OBJECTIVES OF ROTTERDAM TO REDUCE EMISSIONS OF THE GREENHOUSE GAS CO2 BY 50% AND TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY REMAINS CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENT ALSO IN FUTURE. WITH ITS REMARKABLE SHAPE, THE BUILDING IS A

HIGHLY DISTINCTIVE AND PROMINENT FEATURE IN THE CITY, A LANDMARK THAT IS VISIBLE FROM THE ERASMUS BRIDGE. THE FLOATING PAVILION IS THE FIRST RESULT OF ROTTERDAM CLIMATE PROOF (PART OF THE ROTTERDAM CLIMATE INITIATIVE) AND ITS AMBITION TO BUILD CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENT CONSTRUCTIONS IN THE AREAS OUTSIDE THE LEVEES.

THE LEVEL OF SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PAVILION IS DETERMINED BY THE MATERIALS USED, ITS FLEXIBILITY, AS WELL AS ITS FITTINGS. FOR INSTANCE, THE BUILDING’S HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS RELY ON SOLAR ENERGY AND SURFACE WATER. IT CONTAINS VARIOUS CLIMATIC ZONES; THE ENERGY IS USED ONLY IN PLACES WHERE IT IS REQUIRED AT ANY SPECIFIC MOMENT. WHERE POWER IS CONCERNED, THE PAVILION WILL LARGELY BE SELF-SUFFICIENT. EVEN THE TOILET WATER WILL BE PURIFIED BY ITS OWN SYSTEM. WHATEVER IS LEFT, CAN SUBSEQUENTLY BE DISCHARGED INTO THE SURFACE WATER.

ANOTHER SPECIAL FEATURE IS THE FOIL THAT IS USED TO CLAD THE DOMES. THIS SO-CALLED ETFE FOIL IS A LIGHTWEIGHT FOIL, APPROXIMATELY 100 TIMES LIGHTER THAN GLASS, SO THAT THE FLOATING FOUNDATION REQUIRES ONLY A LIMITED THICKNESS.

ROTTERDAM HAS PLANS TO BUILD FLOATING URBAN DISTRICTS. THE STADSHAVENS DISTRICT OFFERS SPACE FOR 1,600 HECTARES OF SUSTAINABLE AREA DEVELOPMENT. UNTIL 2040, SOME 13,000 CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENT HOMES WILL BE BUILT HERE, APPROXIMATELY 1,200 OF WHICH WILL BE BUILT ON WATER. IN THESE FLOATING DISTRICTS, PEOPLE WILL LIVE ON THE WATER, GET THEIR GROCERIES, WORK AND SPEND THEIR LEISURE TIME, ALL ON THE WATER. THE PAVILION WILL BE A SHOWCASE FOR THE POSSIBILITIES THIS INNOVATION OFFERS, IN CLOSE ALIGNMENT WITH THE ROTTERDAM CLIMATE PROOF AMBITION TO REALIZE A FULLY CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENT CITY. FLOATING CONSTRUCTION CONSTITUTES ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT WILL BE FAVOURED MORE AND MORE IN THE 21ST CENTURY, ALL OVER THE WORLD. ONCE THE INDUSTRY IN ROTTERDAM HAS GAINED EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MARKET THIS KNOWLEDGE IN THE REST OF THE WORLD.

IN THE PAVILION, ROTTERDAM’S AMBITIONS IN THE FIELD OF CLIMATE, DELTA AND WATER TECHNOLOGY WILL BE EXHIBITED. IN ADDITION, INTERESTED GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WILL FIND A WARM WELCOME IN THE RECEPTION AREA. THE STRUCTURE WILL CONTAIN A LECTURE THEATRE SEATING GROUPS OF APPROXIMATELY 150 PEOPLE. THE ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION IS DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE APPROXIMATELY 500 VISITORS.

FLOATING CONSTRUCTIONBY STUDY AND DESIGN OF FLOATING CONCRETE PONTOONS AND BREAKWATER-STRUCTURES, OUR ENGINEERS

LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF RESPECTING THE FORCES OF WATER. THIS EXPERIENCE CONTINUES TO PAY OFF

TODAY. WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF FLOATING STRUCTURES AND FLOATING

BREAKWATERS FOR VARIOUS CLIENTS.

A FEW EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS: FLOATING BREAKWATERS, FLOATING CRUISE TERMINALS, FLOATING BUILDINGS,

FLOATING CONCRETE PONTOONS, FLOATING ROADS, FLOATING PARKING AREAS, FLOATING HOTELS, FLOATING

MARINAS.

FLOATING BUILDINGS

IN CO-OPERATION WITH MYLOS BV FDN HAS BEEN THE LEAD STRUCTURAL ENGINEER FOR THE FLOATING BUILDING

COMPLEX ‘IJBURG’. AN EXAMPLE OF A FLOATING BUILDING IS THE INFORMATION CENTRE OF IJBURG IN

AMSTERDAM.

INFORMATION CENTRE IJBURG ON FLOATING

IJBURG INFORMATION CENTRE AND INFORMATION CENTRE IJBURG ON FLOATING

RECREATION ISLAND IN THE HOUT-HABOUR, AMSTERDAM

IN THE AMSTERDAM HOUT-HARBOUR THE MUNICIPALITY HAS PLANNED TO DREDGE 8 RESIDENTIAL ISLANDS. ON

THESE ISLANDS 950 HOUSES WILL BE BUILT AND MOORING FACILITIES WILL BE CREATED FOR 70 RESIDENTIAL

FLOATING HOUSES. THE CAREFUL USE OF SPACE RESULTS IN INNOVATIVE BUILDING. FDN HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN

CREATING A RECREATIONAL ISLAND IN THE HARBOUR AND ALSO A FLOATING ROAD FROM THE ISLAND TO THE

EXISTING CONSTANT PIER FOR TANKERS. THE FLOATING ROAD IS DESIGNED USING CONCRETE PONTOONS FILLED

WITH POLYSTYRENE.

FLOATING ROAD IN CONCRETE, FLOATING ROAD STEEL-CONCRETE COMBINATION

FLOATING RECREATIONAL BUILDING, WESSEM, NETHERLANDS

FDN SUPPORTED IN THE DESIGN OF A FLOATING RECREATIONAL BUILDING IN WESSEM, THE NETHERLANDS. THE

BUILDING HOUSES THE HARBOUR OFFICES, A RESTAURANT, OTHER OFFICES AND MULTIPLE RECREATIONAL AREAS.

FLOATING RECREATIONAL BUILDING

POURING THE CONCRETE

CONCRETE STRUCTURE

THE LAUNCH

BEGINNING OF THE STEELWORK

CONNECTION OF PARTS

CONSTRUCTION OF FLOORS

FINAL RESULT

FINAL RESULT

FINAL RESULT

WE EXCLUSIVELY RELY ON THE HIGHEST QUALITY MARINETEK HOUSE PONTOONS IN ALL OF OUR MARINA HOUSING FLOATING

STRUCTURES. MARINETEK HOUSE PONTOONS ARE THOROUGHLY TESTED AND TYPE-CERTIFIED AS DURABLE AND HEAVY-DUTY

STEEL-CONCRETE PONTOONS THAT WILL HAVE A LONG LIFE-SPAN. THEY TOLERATE THE WEAR AND TEAR OF ICY CONDITIONS

AND THEY ARE EXREMELY STABLE IN ROUGHER WINDS. A HOUSE PONTOON WEIGHS ABOUT TWICE AS MUCH AS THE

CONSTRUCTION BUILT ON TOP OF IT. OUR PONTOONS ARE LONGER AND WIDER THAN THE MASS OF THE HOUSE AND THE

BUILDINGS CENTER OF GRAVITY IS VERY LOW. FINALLY, THE COMPLETE FLOATING STRUCTURE IS SECURELY MOORED WITH

SEAFLEX RUBBER CABLES TO MASSIVE CONCRETE ANCHORS ON THE SEA FLOOR. BECAUSE OF ALL THESE FACTORS OUR

FLOATING STRUCTURES ON MARINETEK PONTOONS ARE EXTREMELY STABLE.

MARINETEK HOUSE PONTOONS

VIDEO OF SEAFLEX ANCHORING

^ TOP

MARINA HOUSING TECHNOLOGY

BUILT STRUCTURE OF THE FLOATING VILLAS

ALL BUILDING MATERIALS IN MARINA HOUSING FLOATING BUILDINGS ARE CAREFULLY CHOSEN. FOR EXAMPLE ALL STEEL PARTS

ARE EITHER STAINLESS STEEL AISI316 OR HOT DIP GALVANIZED STEEL. THE BEARING SKELETON AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER

BUILDING MATERIALS IS LIGHT-WEIGHT AND DURABLE. ALL STRUCTURES ARE DESIGNED ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL WIND,

THERMAL, WAVE, WATER CURRENT AND ICE CONDITIONS TO ENDURE THE DEMANDING SEASIDE ENVIRONMENT. MARINA

HOUSING FLOATING BUILDINGS CAN BE BUILT IN LARGE MODULES OR HOUSE MODULES THAT ARE PREFABRICATED IN A FACTORY

AND TRANSPORTED TO THE FINAL BUILDING PLACE BY TRUCKS OR CARGO SHIPS. THE MODULES ARE THEN ASSEMBLED AND

LIFTED ON THE HOUSE PONTOONS. THE FINISHING WORKS ARE DONE AND THE FLOATING STRUCTURE IS FLOATED TO THE FINAL

MOORING PLACE AND ANCHORED TO THE SEABED.

JOINING TO MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE

WE HAVE RELIED ON THE LATEST SOLUTIONS AS FAR AS THE JOINING OF THE HOUSEHOLDS TO THE MUNICIPAL WATER AND

SEWAGE SYSTEMS IS CONCERNED. EACH VILLA HAS ITS OWN WASTE DISPOSING SHREDDER PUMP FROM WHICH THE SEWAGE

LIQUID IS PUMPED TO THE MUNICIPAL SEWAGE NETWORK. THERE WILL BE NO ODOUR PROBLEMS. SEWERS, ALONG WITH THE

WATER PIPES, ARE DRAWN TO THE VILLAS ALONG THE PIERS, HEATED IF NECESSARY TO PREVENT FREEZING. ELECTRIC POWER

CABLES ARE ALSO DRAWN ALONG THE PIER STRUCTURES. THERE ARE INSPECTION HATCHES IN THE PIERS FOR THE MAINTENANCE

OF THE PIPES.

TOTAL ENERGY ECONOMY

MARINA HOUSING FLOATING BUILDINGS ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE ENERGY EFFICIENCY. FOR

EXAMPLE MARINA HOUSING HOUSING CONCEPT FLOATING INTELLIGENT GREEN VILLAS ARE EQUIPPED WITH ENERGY SAVING

SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES, WHICH ENABLE REACHING UP TO LEED GOLD LEVEL RATING. THE COMPREHENSIVE LONIX

AUTOMATION AND SECURITY SOLUTION ALLOWS FOR EXCELLENT INDOOR COMFORT AND DRASTIC ENERGY SAVINGS BY

INTELLIGENT CONTROLS AND SMOOTH INTEGRATION OF SYSTEMS. ENERVENT VENTILATION WITH INTEGRATED ENERGY

RECOVERY FURTHER REDUCES ENERGY NEED IN COOLING BY 80% THROUGH ENERGY RECOVERY VENTILATION. HIGHLY

EFFICIENT AIR FILTRATION OF HARMFUL PARTICLES - VIRUSES, BACTERIA AND CHEMICALS - ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE INDOOR

AIR. ENERGY EFFICIENT INSULATION AND WINDOWS ARE STANDARD SOLUTIONS IN MARINA HOUSING FLOATING VILLAS. THE

VILLAS CAN ALSO BE EQUIPPED WITH SUN COLLECTORS, A SOLUTION THAT PRODUCES HOT HOUSEHOLD WATER IN THE SUNNY

SUMMERTIME BY VERY LOW ENERGY CONSUMPTION. IN BIGGER UNITS OR COMMUNITIES THE USE OF GEOTHERMAL HEAT IS VERY

RECOMMENDABLE. ALL THESE SYSTEMS AND BUILDING MATERIALS HELP TO SAVE MONEY AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN A LONG

RUN.

DOWNLOAD FLOATING INTELLIGENT GREEN VILLAS BROCHURE (PDF 3,5M)

^ TOP

IDEOLOGY

SAFETY

ALTHOUGH THIS NEW KIND OF LIVING ON FLOATING ACCOMMODATIONS IS AS SUCH QUITE UNCONVENTIONAL, THERE ARE NO

COMPROMISES IN THE FIELD OF SAFETY. OUR TAILOR-MADE FLOATING STRUCTURES ARE ALWAYS DESIGNED ACCORDING TO THE

PREVAILING WIND, WAVE, CURRENT, ICE AND THERMAL CONDITIONS. TODAY MARINA HOUSING DOES POSSESS A SOLID

EXPERIENCE DERIVED FROM MORE THAN 1,000 COMPLETED PONTOON PROJECTS FROM THE RELENTLESS HEAT OF DUBAI ALL THE

WAY TO THE FREEZING TEMPERATURES OF THE HARSH SCANDINAVIAN WINTER. OUR EXPERIENCED DESIGNERS CHOOSE THE

SAFEST WAY OF ANCHORING, WAVE BREAKERS, CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND OTHER TECHNICAL DETAILS INDIVIDUALLY

TAKING INTO CONDERATION THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS OF THE SITE AND THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION. AS THIS GREAT

RESPONSIBILITY IS SOLELY OURS OUR CUSTOMERS ARE FREE TO ENJOY THE FLOATING LIFESTYLE WITHOUT TROUBLES OR

WORRIES.

ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

OUR FLOATING STRUCTURES NEITHER INTERFERE WITH THE WATER CURRENTS NOR DO THEY HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE

WATER QUALITY. OUR FLOATING HOUSES ARE CONNECTED TO THE MUNICIPAL WATER AND SEWAGE SYSTEM; IN CERTAIN

SPECIAL CASES BIO-PURIFICATION METHODS ARE RELIED ON. WE BELIEVE IN THE IDEA OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AND

WANT TO ENSURE THAT ALSO THE COMING GENERATIONS CAN ENJOY THE WONDERFUL MARITIME SCENERY.

IN PRACTICALLY ALL MARINA VILLAGE PROJECTS WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP THE SHORES NEARLY INTACT WHICH MAKES OUR

SOLUTIONS ESPECIALLY SUITABLE FOR PLACES WHERE THE SHORELINE AREAS ARE PRESERVED. IN CONTRAST TO TRADITIONAL

CONSTRUCTION, OUR FLOATING STRUCTURES NEITHER REQUIRE EARTH REMOVAL NOR TOUCHING ON THE VEGETATION. IN ALL

OF OUR MATERIAL CHOICES WE PREFER DURABILITY AND LONG LIFE-SPANS, ECOLOGICAL QUALITIES AND LOW ENERGY

CONSUMPTION. THIS IS OUR WAY OF CREATING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE FIELD OF CONSTRUCTING. WE WANT TO

PARTICIPATE IN ENSURING A BETTER ECOLOGICAL FUTURE FOR US ALL.

A FLOATING SCHOOL THAT WON'T FLOODDESIGNED FOR A FLOOD-PRONE AREA OF NIGERIA, THIS SCHOOL WOULD KEEP

STUDENTS IN SCHOOL EVEN AFTER THE HEAVIEST RAINS. 1   NOTES

 

/ 

283 TWEETS 

/ 

357 LIKES 

/ 

 SHARE

MAKOKO IS A WATER-LOGGED SETTLEMENT IN LAGOS, HOME TO ABOUT 250,000 PEOPLE LIVING MOSTLY IN MAKESHIFT STRUCTURES ON STILTS. THE MAIN MODE OF TRANSPORT IS CANOE, AND THE AREA IS AT CONSTANT RISK OF FLOODING, ACCORDING TO KUNLÉ ADEYEMI, A NIGERIAN-BORN ARCHITECT WHO NOW LIVES IN HOLLAND.

SOME CITY OFFICIALS WANT TO TEAR THE AREA DOWN, SAYING IT IS UNFIT FOR HABITATION (OR

BECAUSE REAL ESTATE WOULD BE MORE VALUABLE WITH UPSCALE HOMES). BUT ADEYEMI WANTS TO

KEEP BUILDING--JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. INSTEAD OF STILTS, HE SEES FLOATING STRUCTURES, WITH

BETTER ACCESS TO POWER AND FRESH WATER, AND MORE SUSTAINABLE MEANS OF WASTE DISPOSAL.

HIS FIRST PROJECT--WHAT HE CALLS A "SEED TO CULTIVATE A NEW TYPE OF URBANISM ON WATER IN

AFRICAN CITIES"--IS A FLOATING SCHOOL. THE THREE-STORY STRUCTURE IS 108 SQUARE FEET AT ITS

BASE, AND 33 FEET HIGH. IT SITS ON A FLOTATION DECK MADE OF 256 USED PLASTIC DRUMS. AND THE

BODY IS ALL WOOD, WHICH IS SOURCED LOCALLY. THE IDEA IS TO KEEP THINGS RELATIVELY CHEAP:

ADEYEMI SAYS BUILDING ON WATER IS "CERTAINLY CHEAPER THAN BUILDING ON LAND".

THE BUILDING IS DESIGNED FOR ABOUT 100 STUDENTS (AGED 4 TO 12), AND HAS ITS OWN POWER SYSTEM

BASED AROUND SOLAR PANELS ON THE ROOF. THERE IS RAINWATER HARVESTING CAPACITY, AND THE

SCHOOL HAS ITS OWN TOILET--SOMETHING UNUSUAL FOR THE AREA.

"MAKOKO IS A SETTLEMENT THAT PEOPLE OFTEN DRIVE BY. I’VE DRIVEN BY IT MYSELF FOR MANY

YEARS," ADEYEMI SAYS. "BUT I STARTED TO VISIT AND I WAS INSPIRED, SHOCKED, AND MOTIVATED BY

THE ENVIRONMENT. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD DO, AND THEY SAID THE SCHOOL WAS

ALWAYS FLOODING, AND THEY NEEDED AN EXTENSION. SO, THAT’S WHAT WE DID."

ADEYEMI DESCRIBES THE STRUCTURE, WHICH IS NEARLY FINISHED, AS "VERY STABLE". AND HE SAYS

THE CHILDREN SEE NOTHING STRANGE IN TAKING A BOAT TO CLASS. "IT HAS BEEN EXCITING FOR THEM

SINCE WE BUILT THE FIRST PLATFORM. THEY LOVE IT, AND ARE ALWAYS AROUND IT."

MORE BROADLY, HE SEES THE DESIGN AS A WAY OF "ADDRESSING ISSUES THAT ARE LARGER AND MORE

PREVALENT IN COASTAL AFRICAN CITIES, WHERE THERE IS RAPID URBANIZATION AND A SHORTAGE OF

HOUSING, AND YOU HAVE ENERGY AND WASTE MANAGEMENT ISSUES, AND THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE

CHANGE."

"THERE ARE URBAN STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH SEA LEVEL RISES AND FLOODING THAT ARE MORE

INFRASTRUCTURE-RELATED. BUT THIS IS ABOUT FLOOD-PRONE AREAS WITHIN CITIES THAT WE CAN USE

FOR URBANIZATION," HE SAYS.

ASIDE FROM LAGOS, THAT COULD MEAN MUCH OF COASTAL WEST AFRICA--FROM NIGERIA TO SENEGAL.

"WE HOPE TO BE A CATALYST AND THAT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WILL ADOPT SIMILAR SYSTEMS TO

ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND FLOODING," ADEYEMI SAYS.