Dutch firm says giant floating platforms could ease urban crowding
Giant floating platforms that house communities could be the answer to urban overcrowding
There has been much debate on where land can be found to house a growing population in Hong Kong. For communities elsewhere, the need is even more pressing.
With global population density increasing and sea levels expected to rise by as much as 30cm by 2050, many coastal habitats will come under intense pressure. And the answer could be right on the horizon.
It's just evolution ... water is the next step for letting cities grow and become more dense
"In major cities there's already a lack of space and the next logical step is to make use of water," says Koen Olthuis, founder of Netherlands-based Waterstudio.nl and architect of multiple maritime projects.
"It's just evolution - the elevator made vertical cities of skyscrapers possible, and water is the next step for letting cities grow and become more dense."
More than two-thirds of the Netherlands is prone to flooding, and much of it is below sea-level, which gives its architects and engineers an unusual perspective on man's relationship to water. While he stops short of proposing giant cities at sea, Olthuis thinks the definition of a city should be changing constantly.
Waterstudio.NL's City Apps project tackles urban density and climate change. It was inspired by Olthuis' belief that cities should be more flexible, and approached as a product.
