In our previous posts we have introduced some of the world’s most bizarre and futuristic structures, including the ‘Apeiron Island Hotel’ in Dubai, the ‘Habitat 67’ in Montreal, Canada and the ‘Dancing Building’ in Prague to name but a three. But what we are going to discover in this post is something more interesting and extraordinary. Can you imagine? Designing buildings for birds, plants and fish… this really opens up a new realm of architecture!
Koen Olthuis, an architect of Dutch firm Waterstudio.NL that specializes in building in wet areas, has developed a water-based floating park – a safe haven for wildlife that is sure to bring positive green effects to urban environments.
Designed for use in cities with large waterways, such is New York, Tokyo or London, the Sea Tree is a multi-tiered structure comprising layered green habitats that provide valuable living grounds for birds, bees, bats and other small animals and even for artificial coral reefs, if the climate allows for it. Given enough time to grow, the Sea Tree will eventually resemble a sort of hanging garden, both above and below water, with branches and vines hanging from the different levels.
Mr. Olthuis came up with the concept because it is so difficult to add extra park zones to a city on land. And on the other hand, open spaces, like rivers, lakes, seas and harbors should instead be utilized. So, he proposes using offshore technology similar to oil rigs to construct the Sea Trees and he has even suggested that oil companies donate them to cities to show ‘their concern for a better city environment.’
You see, Olthuis approaches aquatic architecture from a different point unlike other architects. Usually, when people want to build some sort of floating city, man-made island, or flashy submerged structure, it’s because they want to attract tourists, and according to the Dutch architect this kind of thinking leads to utterly absurd designs, like an ice hotel in the middle of the desert.
Being from the Netherlands, Olthuis takes the ‘ocean’ very seriously, (as it’s slowly swallowing the entire country), creating floating structures because he must and because they are very practical, simple and functional. He imagines entire cities being built in water and in The Hague’s hinterland; this vision will soon become a reality. ‘Floating is not dogma,’ Olthuis says. ‘We only use it where it makes sense economically and practically.’ ‘Save the world, built on water,’ this is Koen Olthuis’ core business in a nutshell.
Olthuis and his crew have been developing a number of floating buildings and from the water villa in the Netherlands down to the floating city in Dubai, his projects have attracted and continue to attract attention worldwide. A BBC journalist was probably right in calling Koen Olthuis the “Floating Dutchman”.
Waterstudio claims the Sea Tree will be fully realized just within two years and that an undisclosed client has already expressed a keen interest!
Luca is a travel photographer and luxury explorer who brings destinations to life through curated guides and stunning visuals.
