Waterstudio has been designing floating architecture in different parts of the world for over twenty years, betting on “blue technology, which is even better than green technology ”, in the words of its founder, Koen Olthuis. In this article we analyse four case studies of different types of floating structures designed by the firm.

 

A hurricane-proof villa in Miami

Arkup 40  represents the new generation of floating buildings. This villa combines flexibility with stability, being able to rise more than 3 meters above sea level during storms to avoid the impact of waves.

This is a highly efficient building that combines interior and exterior spaces through a panoramic view from its windows measuring more than two metres. In terms of sustainability, it uses solar energy for self-sufficiency. The first floating villas are already sailing the waters of Miami.

 

Seapods, the tiny marine houses

The innovative design of Waterstudio’s tiny marine houses incorporates mobility and stability thanks to a system of pillars that adjusts according to the depth of the water, so that the structure can be moved to different locations to enjoy unique ocean views. A prototype that combines design, sustainability and adaptability.

 

The world’s first floating city

For centuries, people in parts of Asia and America have lived their daily lives on water: on top of lakes, streams, in oceans, or at sea. This world’s first floating community, located 10 minutes from the capital of the Maldives and covering 200 hectares, seeks to reclaim these floating islands and turn them into modern, scalable and commercially viable buildings thanks to the partnership between Waterstudio, the Dutch Docklands floating structure development company, and the government of the Maldives.

 

Europe’s first floating theatre

Since 2023, Lyon has had Europe’s first floating theatre: L’Île Ô. Its structure, built on the Rhône River and built with CLT, interacts with the water and is an example of the use of wood, both inside and outside. It consists of six volumes divided into two performance halls with 78 and 244 seats, 245 square metres of modular spaces on three levels and a 140 square metre terrace.