As sea levels rise, homes on the water may be the only option for those living in coastal areas. Luckily, many architects are up to the challenge.
The Climate Central Estimate reports that globally, 275 million people currently live in areas that will be flooded if we reach a global temperature increase of three degrees Celsius.
Ocean-based homes are being explored as feasible solutions to polluted cities and rising sea levels.
Wojciech Morsztyn is a Polish, London-based architect who designed ‘Ocean Community’ which scooped up the Red Dot Architecture Award in 2019.
His project was designed with the aim to offer a natural extension to city coastlines. Situated just 800 meters from the nearest shoreline, the floating homes will be well-connected to infrastructures inland.
The Ocean Community offers fully functional at-sea living spaces with an elegant, modern design. Inside, there are two floor levels which both offer panoramic views of the surrounding sea and city coastline.
Unlike the luxury boats they mimic on the interior, the structures will have a central docking system to avoid any rocking or movement caused by ocean waves, so residents can say goodbye to their worries of seasickness.
These docking systems will be interchangeable should owners want to move around the ‘neighbourhood’. The platform in the middle can support gatherings, which will enforce a strong sense of community.
Designed to be fully self-sufficient and sustainable, they function using solar panels, harness wind power and gather energy from water currents. Thus, they operate completely off the electric grid.
The future use of these structures could see them included as additions to seaside hotels and resorts to give guests a unique off-shore experience.
Practical, modern floating homes will become vital for cities based near water in the coming years. Lucky for those living in these kinds of areas, a large number of architects are up to the challenge.
In Miami, a moveable luxury villa is already available for rent for those willing to splurge on their accommodation budget.
With many now questioning the city’s ability to withstand rising sea levels after the sudden collapse of a residential building, could affordable sea living be the future of one of America’s favourite vacation spots?
Amsterdam is another city that has seen a growth in these types of projects, with some homes already built along riversides and canals. From the inside, it’s difficult to tell you’re inside what is essentially a barge.
The next challenge for architects will be to make these water-dwelling homes affordable on a large scale for anyone who needs them. With talks on this happening from the Netherlands to Nigeria, it’s possible we could have a more designs to look forward to soon.
I’m Jessica (She/Her). I’m the Deputy Editor & Content Partnership Manager at Thred. Originally from the island of Bermuda, I specialise in writing about ocean health and marine conservation, but you can also find me delving into pop culture, health and wellness, plus sustainability in the beauty and fashion industries. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
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