This Floating Neighborhood in Amsterdam Offers a Sustainable Solution for Crowded Cities
In Amsterdam, a floating neighborhood is being built on a canal. The project is a collaboration between architecture firm Space & Matter and a team of consultants. Known as Schoonschip Amsterdam, this residential area has been in the works since 2010, and the team expects to complete the project in 2020.
The floating neighborhood offers a sustainable solution for high-density urban areas (a greener alternative to high rises) as well as low-lying areas that are at risk due to rising sea levels. It’s composed of 30 water plots, on which 46 unique floating dwellings will house more than 100 residents. The first seven of these homes are already in place.
“Seventy percent of the world is covered in water, and the good thing is that we can easily live on it!” the project website reads. “Since urban areas struggle with high density, we should make better use of the space on the water. With Schoonschip we want to set the example, and show how living on water can be a great and better alternative for people and our planet.”
Sustainability is a central theme for the project, and each house is self-sufficient. On top of being insulated and equipped with solar panels (plus a battery that stores extra energy), many of the homes have a green roof that residents can grow food on. Water pumps extract heat from the canal water to heat each home, and wastewater from toilets and showers are treated and converted into energy. Houses are connected by a smart jetty.
Fast Company pointed out that this model can be useful for coastal cities that already deal with flooding issues, as floating homes can be built elsewhere then towed to their destination. This would allow a neighborhood to pop up overnight without creating disruptive construction for the surrounding area.