Other Things that Float

Source: Haeahn Architecture archdaily.com

Seoul Floating Islands, Seoul, South Korea, 2011 designed by Haeahn Architecture + H Architecture

As part of the Han River Renaissance, initiated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul Floating Islands are part of a large scheme intended to program and stimulate the water landscape.  The design concept stems from the stages of a blooming flower: a seed, bud, and blossom. Each of the islands take on the form of one of these stages, manifesting as delicate yet bold structures of glass, wood, and steel.  -- ArchDaily

Source: Studio Alfirevic archdaily.com

Raft ’4U’ – Cafe Restaurant , Belgrade, Serbia designed by Studio Alfirevic

The main idea for the Raft ’4U’ cafe restaurant was to create a pleasant environment, like staying under the shadow of a tree, but also above water. The construction of the raft is made of wooden beams, roof-rafters and pillars, which are placed over the pontoons beneath the steel substructure of the floor area. Roof is ventilated, and final coating of the roof is galvanized sheet metal.  -- ArchDaily

Source: Martine Berendsen, Bart van Hoek, and Attika Architekten archdaily.com

Floating Office for Waternet, Noord 4, Papaverweg 54, 1032 KJ Amsterdam, Netherlands designed by Attika Architekten

The office program was realized in and on two connected floating concrete caissons. In total the building measures 31 by 12 metres and has three floors, making it the biggest ark in the Netherlands. It contains office space on entrance and first floor level. Showers and locker rooms for the workers are located in the under water basement. A spacious double height canteen forms the heart of the building and links all rooms on ground and first floor level with the harbour.

The building has an innovative way of heating and cooling. In de bottom of the concrete caisson lies a heat exchanger, a liquid filled winding tube, like a reverse underfloor heating system. It takes heat or cold directly from the source surrounding it, water. A reversible heat pump provides warm or cool air. The energy for the heat pump comes from solar panels placed on the roof. -- ArchDaily

Source: Richard Davies

Floating Bridge, London, UK, 1996 designed by Future Systems

The slender form of the bridge is evocative of a brightly coloured insect touching the water as lightly as a water skater, offering pedestrians a sense of freedom as they cross. Colour is central to the concept – like a laser beam of light the bridge skims the dock with a piercing lime green line, the sense of perspective exaggerated by the tapering plan of the deck. -- MIMOA

Source: Olivier Grossetête archdaily.com

Pont de Singe Installation in UK by Olivier Grossetête 

Olivier Grossetête’s ‘Pont de Singe’ in the UK is a model of floating bridge attached to helium balloons, thus taking literally the term “suspension bridge “. The object aims to connect two mobile spaces, questioning its usefulness. This bridge becomes a floating symbol of all relationships, and embodies the space surrounding its slight movements caused by our air movement. -- ArchDaily

Source: Salt & Water Design Studio archdaily.com

Salt & Water Design Floating Hotel with Catamaran-Apartments

A winner of the Millennium Yacht Design Awards, Salt & Water‘s concept for a Floating Hotel aims to introduce tourism onto inland waters without disrupting the natural harmony of its surroundings. Their design consists of two parts: a central floating body and separate catamaran apartment units. -- ArchDaily