An ambitious project I came across last year from the guys that brought you Formosa, the UK’s first amphibious floating House. Baca Architects were runners up to Dutch architects DRMM in the Royal Docks Competition to build the UK’s first floating village. Baca’s idea for the amphibious settlement was conceived as a “Crown” in the Royal Docks , forming the head of a future necklace of floating settlements that could extend throughtout the Docks, creating what they referred to as “a watery ‘Champs Elysee’ boulevard”.
As they describe it,
Development is set away from the dock edge and surrounded by a ‘blue belt’, to provide space to breathe and express the unique ‘aquatecture’. Water is the public realm for all sorts of events to cater for everyone; like dragon boat and rowing races, carnivals, boat shows, gondolas, floating weddings or space to just sit. The village design has the bold ambition of the original dock builders and would be innovative, inspirational and iconic: a legacy that future generations could be proud of.
Though their idea came in second, It was both bold and playful containing all the components one would expect from a quintessential British village; small local stores, a village hall/gallery, and even a floating village pub set on the edge of the village blue. Houses, offices and shops can all be approached by a network of canals which would be beautifully illuminated at night.
One can’t help but relate this plan for the UK to Kunle Adeyemi’s idea for Makoko and the possible impact it could have on the community, state and country as a whole. If the British Government could see the idea of ‘floating real estate’ as a viable one, then maybe, just maybe, the Lagos state government should expedite the implementation of Mr. Adeyemi’s thoughtful regeneration plan.
[via baca blog]
