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 EFFECTS OF 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 NEAR THE 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 CALLEBAUTS 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 ITS 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 ISNT 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. OTECS 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. THATS 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 BUILDINGS POSITION IS FIXED IN HORIZONTAL DIRECTION. THE BASE OF A FLOATING HOME CONSISTS OF A FLOATING MECHANISM THAT SECURES THE BUILDINGS 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 HIGHDENSITY 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 STUDY
MEGA 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 | EDITBETA]

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 | EDITBETA]

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 LANDLOCKED 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 REEFLIKE 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 | EDITBETA]

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 BAY

FROM WIKIPEDIA, THE FREE ENCYCLOPEDIA

THE FLOAT AT MARINA BAY

LOCATION

MARINA BAY, SINGAPORE

COORDINATES

11718N 1035132ECOORDINATES: 11718N 1035132E

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: , MALAY: PENTAS TERAPUNG TELUK MARINA, TAMIL: ), 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 | EDITBETA]

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 | EDITBETA]

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 | EDITBETA]

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) DESIGNER CLIENT LOCATION YEAR

SOLAR ENERGY, WATER RECYCLING, ZERO EMISSION DELTASYNC & PUBLICDOMAIN ARCHITECTS CITY OF ROTTERDAM RIJNHAVEN, ROTTERDAM (ZUID-HOLLAND), NETHERLANDS 2010

GREEN FACTS & AWARDS - CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENT - HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS RELY ON SOLAR ENERGY AND SURFACE WATER - WATER RECYCLING SYSTEM DESCRIPTION IN 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 BUILDINGS 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, ROTTERDAMS 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 CONSTRUCTION
BY 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 FLOOD

DESIGNED 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 KUNL 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. IVE 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, THATS 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.