Projects
The concept of a floating city gained international attention after winning the Deltacompetition in 2006. This picture, by Bart van Bueren got enormous attention shown on television in Netherlands, China and other countries. It was also used in a promotion campaign by TUDelft.
Maaspad was runner up for the South-Hollandprice 2011. A new metro is introduced in the Rijnmond-Drechtstad-region, binding Hoek van Holland, Rotterdam and Drechtstad, servicing over 300.000 people. This metro is imbedded in additional flood protection and repurposes an old tunnel, saving €150 million. Maaspad is a very integrated proposal for intensifying the delta region in an adaptive and sustainable matter.
This awards winning plan prevents salinity in the Haringvliet, south of Holland. To stimulate a natural sandy island in the front delta, a new semi-open bay is formed. This bay buffers between salt and fresh water and restores an essential balance for migration of fish and estuarine nature, with benefits for tourism, agriculture and climate adaptation. This innovative usage of the front delta is a great example of Deltatechnology applicable in all delta’s worldwide. With Grontmij and Imares.
This concept design shows floating gardens with aqua culture and hydro culture grown in an ecological closed system. The objective is to produce sustainable and climate-adaptive food for a self-sufficient, densely populated delta metropolis.
This urban study is how to forge one ‘Drechtcity’ from Dordrecht, Zwijndrecht and Papendrecht. Currently it are the canals and river which form a barrier between the cities. By using taxi boats, the water actually turns into a connection. The solution is found in the historical function of the water, from times when Dordrecht was an important trading city (1300-1700). On the open water, floating public functions are introduced to create a unique lively water square, like in historical times.
Sweco, Imares, Waterarchitect and Deltares collaborated in a feasibility study for a Balance Island in Bangladesh and Vietnam. The Balance Island concept is to reduce salt intrusion in the river by means of manipulating sediments to create a Balance Island, it already won two awards previously. Only one location was modeled for calculation, the selected Co Chien branch from Mekong could benefit 4 kilometers of salt intrusion reduction with a Balance Island variant.
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A residential area of around 200 houses and shops is designed for the Maashaven. The typology to build floating houses in urban density is new and proves to be feasible. Put your boat in front of your house, and you’ll love the Venetian restaurant that comes sailing in every week! Commissioned by WaterWonen-Rotterdam.
Urgenda and Drift are NGO’s collaborating with ErasmusUniversity. They are concerned about the transition towards a more sustainable planet. Urgenda, Drift and Waterarchitect together made a book with visions on a climate-adaptive Rotterdam with reuse of her old harbors. The book is used as inspiration for near-future redevelopment of Rijnhaven. Floating swimmingpool, office and living neighborhood are designed to serve as inspiration and explanation for a complex theory on transition-management
The Rotterdam Floating Pavilion 'Netherlands Water Center' originated from Van Bueren's graduation project and got executed by his first company DeltaSync. To align the design with the available budget the pavilion changed from five to three domes. Nonetheless this building got internationally recognized as ‘Icon of Climate Adaptation’. Both from the inside and outside it has a futuristic appearance, making visitors curious about its statement and integrated innovative technologies.
This winning proposal was to work on the quality of life in, Dutch towns with a aging and declining population. Old towns in Holland typically have waterways reaching the marketplace. This proposal is to make facilities mobile, like a floating post office, bank, store or restaurant. The facilities will move to a different village every day which increase their customers area and therefore they van will be feasible in areas with low population. this proposal was praised for its historical referen
The Westland area in Holland has probably the highest crop yield per surface in the world and yet it’s in the densely populated area of the Randstad. Greenhouses are extremely effective in growing a lot of crop on a small surface, but now the problem is there is no space left for the greenhouses. Complications for spatial planning occur for water storage and a lot of horticulture related functions. Even agro hotels for guest-workers are unavailable and difficult to plan.The High Level Greenhouse
This design is a row of 16 houses combined with function as bridge. a green walking route goes over the rooftops of the houses. The rooftop-area is public accessible and provides a wonderful view to the surrounding landscape. Residents are able to enjoy the connection with water on both sides of their house. This design won the public award out of 60 entries.
(Up)floating greenhouses fulfills the increasing need for water retention in metropolitan area. Floating greenhouses preserve the world food system dramatically by minimizing the ecological-footprint and keeping it centered nearby cities. My investigation has resulted in a patent for industrial fabrication of a floating cultivation floor. A prototype is under development. This product is expected to cost 50% less than the current available products. Unique is the use of the cultivation floor in
Cities are very efficient in usage of space, but surprisingly rooftops are often left unused. This study is on the use of this forgotten place. One possible use is roofgardens. It can become a place of meditation in the middle of the busy city and even provide for local food-production. Additionally roofgardens retain water to prevent sewage overflow from heavy showers, plus they purify smog and they give a cooling effect against urban heat-island effect. In a more in-depth research Waterarchite
Cities are very efficient in usage of space, but surprisingly rooftops are often left unused. This study is on the use of this forgotten place. One possible use is roofgardens. It can become a place of meditation in the middle of the busy city and even provide for local food-production. Additionally roofgardens retain water to prevent sewage overflow from heavy showers, plus they purify smog and they give a cooling effect against urban heat-island effect. In a more in-depth research Waterarchite
RCETS research pilot to create a house with a positive impact on its environment. it has a surplus on energy generation and stimulates the fishfarming and community.
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At the peninsula Kop van Zuid twelve luxury houses are developed by WaterWonen-Rotterdam. For sun gain and view the houses can rotate around their axes. Co-created with Roos&Ros.
Taiwan Dutch Design Post is a platform to aid on international projects, involving sustainability, (social) innovation and entrepreneurship in the creative industry sector. Since three years it facilitated over 70 Dutch designers on their visit to Taiwan. Funding, knowledge and network are set up through an international triple-helix collaboration between governments, companies and universities.
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This Floating Pavilion design was made as graduation project in Architecture and Building Technology at TUDelft (2007). It really became an ‘icon for Climate Adaptation’. The five clustered bulbs make an energy efficient and light-weight construction. The domes cite to soap bubbles, which match as appearance for floating architecture. Heat pumps and thermal extraction help the building in heating and cooling. This design got presented for WorldExpo 2010 and Rotterdam commissioned it to be built.
Rotterdam is renowned for its harbor and river in the city. Yet there are barely places to enjoy the water from up close. This is because of the daily 1.5m tidal difference and dangerous spring tide requiring high quays. By making a restaurant with large terrace floating, the water can be really enjoyed. This is exactly what municipality and catering have in mind at the Wijnhaven. To overcome the large tidal difference this pavilion is connected to the land with a special designed ‘tidal-stairs’
As commission from project developer OVG, I have made two designs for a 4000m2 floating office. The corporation within a consortium of consultants made a high ambition level reality: twice as durable, build twice as fast, twice less expenses and twice as much satisfaction compared to a conventional office. With the third design I gave technical advice to Claus and Kaan architects.
This design houseboat is based on standard materials used in a less ordinary way. The basis for the boat is a concrete hull of 5x20m. On top of this base are twelve wooden trusses placed as construction of the house. The facade is build up from 80 typical Velux roof. The curved shape gives the interior an extraordinary sense of space. The Velux windows let a diffuse light shine on both floors. This house measures 180m2 , with a great living room, three dorms, a bathroom and a wide kitchen.
As adviser for Soeters Van Eldonk, NIBA and Groenplanning we advised for floating houses on an old grit excavation in Kerkdriel. Based on a technical constraints investigation, a semi-large floating island would be the best option. The final choice was to build three floating castles of 16 condominiums each.
Near Wilnis is an old factory located in a peadpolder. TBI Contour wants to build a neighborhood here. The waterlevel is just 30cm lower than the ground level and because of ground-pollution, the soil has to be excavated. I investigated floating houses as an alternative for the traditional rationalization of the soil. The excavating gave the urban plan more freedom within the strict program for houses. Cost analysis proved this plan to be a valuable alternative.
Four floating gardens to nurture mangroves in Cebu are constructed by Dutch, Taiwanese and Philippines students. The gardens are fully constructed from organic materials, or materials that can be reused; according to principles of Cradle-to-Cradle. This is part of an ongoing pilot for Building with Nature for informal coastal settlements.
In a large team of volunteers we made a Floating Garden for the Boulevard Art Festival Tainan 2014. The Garden is more than just a pretty piece of green art on the water. It’s a statement to create awareness on how much waste people are making, and how much of the waste ends up in nature, harming animals and plants. The artwork is built from foam blocks and plastic bottles that otherwise would pollute the water and streets in Tainan. With old fishing nets and bamboos these floating waste materia
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As part of a NCKU course ‘Lowland Flooding and Management’ a second floating garden was constructed in Tainan. The focus of this garden was a self-sufficient ecosystem to benefit the surroundings, and local participation.
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Thailand’s tradition of raft houses is ending. Policy is to clear the rivers and raft houses are wrongly accused to be polluters of the water. All that remains are ‘fake’ tourist floating markets. Bart van Bueren and NCKU students made a workshop to learn from the very last traditional raft builder in Thailand. This ‘Grandfather’ who almost reached his 80’s was still climbing bamboo trees to select the best branches. In about a week the team built a small Thai raft house according the traditiona
The Rotterdam Climate Initiative (RCI) is to reduce 50% of CO2 emissions and become 100% climateproof. In an exhibition at the World Expo Shanghai 2010, RCI presented her vision, inspired by Waterarchitect van Bueren. Two large models of the floating domes are shown in this expo, just as our designs. Rotterdam Willem de Kooning Academy had the lead on this exposition. Waterarchitect participated in the Dutch Water Week during the World Expo.
With our office furniture we express our (design) vision. This bookcase is made from recycled cardboard boxes, inexpensive studding timber, wires and bolts. This bookcase is 100% detachable and 100% reusable. This bookcase is put together without sawing, drilling, gluing not even nailing. The materials remain in the same condition as by delivery; Cradle2Cradle. The result is a robust contemporary design expressing our vision. Our whole office shows this vision since it’s located in a factory wit
Prefabricated foamed-concrete is able to float and to stable to make cycleways from it. Paths giving access to wetlands and peat lands. Protected reservoirs become accessible, but the visitors still can’t sneak in offtrack. The concrete block easily become breeding grounds for flora and fauna such as shells and algae. As mono-material concrete, with air bubbles, it’s lowcost in production and easily to recycle. This foamed-concrete is half the weight of water and therefor floats with a low cent
The famous Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven is beautifully located in the bed of the Dommel river. The museum was not designed to withstand a flood peak from the river, risking the art storage to be flooded. Waterarchitect and Sweco (formally Grontmij) collaborated to consult a safe and esthetic solution.
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Bart van Bueren develops interdisciplinary courseware on making delta cities adaptable to times of climate change. Students have various backgrounds from planning or policy to various engineering fields.
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