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Coastal cities face the need to expand with rapidly growing populations. From global
warming and sea level rise, to extreme weather events the waterfront boundary needs
to address the threat to the front of the city. Through exploring the possibility of living
on or within water the city could answer both these problems, extending the urban
fabric into the ocean.

By examining case studies of vernacular water communities I will identify systems that
can enable a modern way of life on water that can be applied into the urban context of
the city to help integrate a functional way of living with the ocean. The research will use
logical argumentation in conjunction with chosen case studies to develop a system that
will comfortably create a way of living on water that will help protect and develop cities
with the coastal threat.


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Water has not only been an element needed for life, but it also has given pleasure to life.
Early towns and cities were located near bodies of water. Many coastal and riparian
settlements owe their origins and prosperity to water transport and trade (Lu 2008).
The waterfront of these settlements formed a boundary between the city and water.
Such urban settlements and their ports were normally intimately related in both
functional and spatial terms (Hoyle & Pinder 1992).

Cities have always been located on land. However more than 70% of the earths surface
is covered in water. With growing populations, cities are looking to ever extend their
boundaries outwards and upwards. However land provides a limited resource for urban
developments. In our present age for the first time more than half of the worlds people
live in cities (Brand 2007), and many of these cities are located on or around the waters
edge. The city must now look towards the waterfront and beyond to develop.

The ocean has traditionally been seen only as a food source or an obstacle to travel. As
water is becoming an increasingly larger part of the planet due to sea level rise, it is
logical to explore building on water as a solution. For this our perception of the sea
must change from our traditional views. The ocean is no longer a place for travel. It is a
place in itself.

Sea level rise is thought to be one of the main possible effects from global warming.
However pure water mass is not the only aspect that will affect coastal cities. Junyong
Chen (Chen 1997) explains that the real impact on coastal areas comes from the relative
sea level rise. Relative sea level rise is the combination of rising sea levels and crustal
vertical movement in the area. Building on water means that the problems that occur to
the land through water level rise will not affect the way of life on those living on water.
As well as contribute to a renewed connection with water that adapts and enhances the
city.

Currently Dutch solutions have lead to the most developed forms of water living with
the use of concrete and polystyrene pontoon foundations. Such as Waterstudioǯs villa
Kortenhoef (Olthuis & Keuning 2010). However I will discount Dutch examples of water
communities as they are simply unmodified suburbs on water, in contrast to my
proposal which investigates a new adaptable minimal Ǯfootprint typologyǯ based on
more vernacular examples.



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To explore if living with the ocean can offer an adaptive way of life to combat urban
congestion and the affect of global warming on the coastal city.

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Objective 1:
The first objective is to explore and examine existing communities living on water.
Focusing on traditional vernacular communities to identify the basic necessities of living
on water. This will enable a clear analysis of the essentials to water communities. What
adaptations have communities living on water made to enable functional living?

Objective 2:
To explore how the built space of these communities enable a functional system of living
on water. This focuses on the technical physical structure that the community needs to
exist on water.

Objective 3:
To compare the benefits and suitability of temporary, nomadic or permanent water
communities, in relation to their connection with the coastal city. This objective aims to
address the affect of site to the type of communities chosen. For example would an area
prone to rough seas suit a more flexible nomadic community?

Objective 4:
The final objective is to examine how a water community interacts with the land based
community it attempts to adapt to. What parts of the community are best suited to
integrate with each other? Is this interaction beneficial for both communities?

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The literature review will focus on three main categories of research as well as critical
authors that include:

Koen Olthuis for his research and specific architecture practice of living on water. B S
Hoyle for work about cities connection to the water through a large number of case
studies. Finally R Barker for his practicing work and experimentation with water design.

Part 1: Affects of global warming on coastal cities

This research will highlight the concerns facing coastal cities due to global warming,
such as ǮThe Impact of Sea Level Rise on Chinaǯs Coastal Areas and its Disaster Hazard
Evaluationǯ (Chen 1997). This understanding will help inform areas of focus for further
research to help protect and adapt the coastal city.

Part 2: Existing examples of water communities

This exploration of case studies will form a major part of the research. The focus will be
on vernacular communities such as the fishing villages in Vietnam and floating
communities on Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia (Barker 2008).

 
Part 3: Urban systems of coastal communities
Conduct research into the types of systems within coastal communities highlighting
their connection to the water through the waterfront. It will identify aspects of the city
that can connect and adapt to the water, such as Diane Brands idea of bluespa ce (Brand
2007).

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From the literature review I will compile a list of vernacular case studies of communities
on water. Other case studies examined will include theoretical work such as Rowland
Atkinsonǯs interpretation of ǮThe Worldǯ, a cruiser ship (Atkinson 2009).

From the case studies I will develop an understanding of the types of communities that
exist on water and how they function. From this I can identify elements that are relevant
to a specific environment or place and those which are relevant to living on water in
general. I can then compare these elements with the contemporary coastal city and
explore how these elements can be applied within, or to extend the urban fabric of the
city.

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Through an application for a conference grant I will travel to the case studies, located
mainly in South East Asia to record first hand, both visually and digitally the way of life
that exists in these water communities. Also recording and experiencing how these
communities integrate and connect to the cities they exist with.

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Through the compiled research of both first hand recordings and examined literature I
will conduct a comparative analysis to determine consistencies and differences between
the two. This will enable me to derive a pattern that exists between the communities
that will form the base for exploration through design.

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I will apply the research gathered to a site within the Wellington context. The New
Zealand setting demonstrates the need for adaptability in design to cope with differing
environmental conditions. The site will be chosen through a set of criteria.

1: The site must be exposed to both the Wellington wind and sea.
2: It must be located adjacent to a suburb.
3: It must be accessible by boat on water and car on land.
4: It must be located within the boundary of Wellington city.





 
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Through an understanding of the compiled research, logical argumentation will justify
and direct the design process. It will identify and argue how water communities may be
integrated within the city context. Finally presenting a system of living on water that
will act as a master plan for any new water communities.

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Throughout the research process ideas and theories discovered will be tested through
hand drawings and digital design. The design will be tested agai nst three main criteria.

1: Planning. How the community acts as a whole.

2: Infrastructure. How the water community connects with the coastal city and the
systems in place within itself.
3: Adaptability. How the built space on water can adapt to differing environments and
climate changes over time.


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I feel that my anticipated outcomes will result in developing a system that can act
something like a town plan, for living on water. Through analysis of coastal cities the
final outcome should create a system that allows this community to connect with the
existing urban fabric of the city making living on water a viable proposal that could be
practically and functionally integrated into our cities.

The main conclusion from this research will be that there can be a way of life that exists
on water that can be connected with the contemporary city. It will find that to adapt to
this new environment, there will be a development of a different system of living that is
unique to on water communities.

One result from developing this community on water will be that the lifestyle will only
be suitable to some types of people, for example not those who suffer from sea sickness.

This research is significant as it further develops on water living from the individual
house to an urban system of living that creates function communities on the water.
These communities, rather than single housing units will be able to integrate smoothly
into the city. These communities then provide a leading example of how the city can
adapt to urban congestion and the affects of global warming through using this new
building environment.

 
  




Atkinson, R. & Blandy, S. (2009) A Picture of the Floating World: the Secessionary
Affluence of the Residential Cruise Liner. c
 41/1 2009: 92-110.

Barker, R. (2008). Modern Flood Management is about living with rising water,
not blocking it out.  c


 
, Vol. 227, No. 5, p. 19.

Brand, D. (2007). Bluespace: A Typological Matrix For Port Cities.

 



 , Vol.12, p. 69-85.

Chen, J. (1997). The Impact of Sea Level Rise on Chinaǯs Coastal Areas and its
Disaster Hazard Evaluation. 
  
 
 Vol. 13, No. 3, p. 925 -930.

Keuning, D. & Olthuis, K. (2010) 
     


 


 
   
   . Frame, Amsterdam.