The Reality of Climate Change

As we confront the urgency of the climate crisis, the impact of rising sea levels cannot be ignored. Coastal communities, home to around 900 million people, face the acute threat of disappearing due to increasing flood risks. Instead of relying solely on traditional methods like seawalls, some architects are pioneering the concept of living with water through floating architecture.

Scaling up Climate-Resilient Floating Cities

Ambitious proposals for “climate-resilient” floating cities have captured global attention. These visionary projects, including an ocean settlement in South Korea and a large floating city in the Maldives, offer innovative solutions for future living conditions. While these grand ideas make headlines, existing projects are already demonstrating how life on water can be realized.

NLÉ’s Trailblazing Work in Floating Architecture

Dutch architecture practice NLÉ, led by Kunlé Adeyemi, has been at the forefront of researching and testing floating architecture worldwide. Their critically acclaimed Makoko Floating School project served as a pioneering inspiration for the firm’s subsequent projects. NLÉ’s latest exhibition, “Water Cities Rotterdam,” showcases a series of floating pavilions, symbolizing the potential of water-based living.

Makoko Floating School: Adapting to a Changing Climate

The Makoko Floating School, built by Adeyemi in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2012, demonstrated how floating structures could adapt to climate change. The triangular A-frame wooden school, resting on plastic barrels instead of stilts, showcased the potential of building on water to withstand floods. While temporary, the project laid the foundation for further innovation in floating architecture.

The Makoko Floating System (MFS): A Versatile Solution

Inspired by the Makoko Floating School, NLÉ developed the Makoko Floating System (MFS) — a sustainable timber-based structure that can be quickly assembled and disassembled. The MFS is modular, meets European building codes, and offers various sizes suitable for housing, education, and other purposes. Adeyemi believes the system can be applied globally to benefit vulnerable communities.

Learning to Live with Water in Rotterdam

The Dutch city of Rotterdam, highly vulnerable to rising waters, has been an active testing ground for floating architecture. Local firm Public Domain Architects (PDA) completed the Nassauhaven project featuring 17 floating homes, the city’s first floating residential area. The wooden homes, designed to be energy-neutral with sustainable features, adapt to changing water levels while providing stability and comfort for residents.

The Promise of Floating Architecture

Both NLÉ and PDA believe floating architecture offers a resilient and sustainable solution for climate adaptation. As research into water-based living continues to expand, architects are envisioning floating neighborhoods and multi-story “water-scrapers,” reimagining urban landscapes for a changing world.

Bridging the Gap and Embracing the Future

As 70% of the Earth’s surface is water, there remains immense potential for floating architecture. The ongoing work showcased in the “Water Cities Rotterdam” exhibition and Adeyemi’s new book, “African Water Cities,” aims to foster innovation in designing and living on water. With rising sea levels and climate challenges ahead, embracing floating architecture may offer us a glimpse into a more sustainable and adaptable future.

Feature Image: An aerial image of NLÉ’s Floating Music Hub. Courtesy:CNN

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