Study Living on Water

Waterstudio.NL combines architecture, urbanism and innovation for building in, on and at the water: buildings, functions, living-spaces on rivers, canals, lakes or half at sea.

The Netherlands has an extensive history with relation to building on water, a tradition which Waterstudio draws from, but is not confined to. The firm tries to develop the existing water-architecture and building-methods further to a new level. Waterstudio is working on this development in several areas of expertise. In urbanism Waterstudio goes beyond the well-known pier with a boat; water in the neighbourhood is exceptionally attractive as a living-quality, but by not only utilizing open water, but also pursuing higher densities, Waterstudio designs neighbourhood that are very much similar to the existing ones; the only difference is that the foundations are different, to give water a place. In the architectural field Waterstudio tries to modernize the typology of the dwelling-ark; modern houses and villas in and around the water that rival their counterparts on land in space and experience.

To make this possible innovation is essential. Waterstudio develops both new architectural and urban typologies, as well as technical solutions in dealing with the problems of dynamic watermanagement and building on water. The development of dwelling-, and working concepts provides a new notion of the layout of parcels and regions. Moreover, new techniques make new forms of buildings possible. Innovation is the main force behind the firm: Waterstudio has set itself the objective of converting innovative ideas into feasible and broadly applicable building concepts for the upcoming decades.

These studies were performed for the project bureau Living on Water in Amsterdam. One study focused on dwellings at the Slotervaart-canal that were situated half on land and half in the water and can cope with a fluctuation in water-level of 20 centimeters. The characteristic shape of the building is finished in wood and opened itself to the surroundings via a large glass facade. The shape itself seems to float above the transparent lower floor. The upper floor of this split-level dwelling is the living floor; the lower floor contains sleeping- and service areas.

In another study Waterstudio investigated the possibility of using the canals in Amsterdam as dwelling-boulevards; a series of linked floating houses, the roof of which can be used for either parking or as a boulevard.