Arabic

Koen Olthuis,

Waterstudio.NL, The Netherlands

Beyond the Waterfront

We as designers are part of the climate change generation.  The new and expected climate effects, together with the pressure on space through urbanisation, will push our design targets beyond the waterfront.

This involves not only developing architectural concepts and typologies, but also a new sustainable way of dealing with water as well as a dynamic approach to city planning. By introducing new innovative concepts and visions we can achieve positive, sustainable, architectural, urban, social and environmental results while dealing with water management problems at the same time. A sustainable future lies beyond the waterfront!

Every city is constantly changing. Cities have to cope with the question of how to manage the change of urban environment, the demographic situation, financial environment.

We believe that in the future city building and plot should be disconnected. In a floating city configuration, buildings and ground are no longer permanently attached.

On water the relocation of floating buildings and floating town parts and components is already technically feasible.  Planning for change will become easy when space can be created by towing city components away. Water will be the ‘next-big-thing’, expanding possibilities for cities worldwide.