Aquatecture at work: +31 Architects‘s Watervilla Weesperzijde houseboat in Amsterdam
Today, architecture is utilitarian and functional as professionals seek to find solutions to the various challenges of modern-day life. Check out these latest trends dominating architectural design right now…
Aquatecture
Floating architecture – or simply ‘Aquatecture’ – is a necessary subsection of design thanks to global warming and widespread housing shortages.
With rising water levels and continually diminishing land-based development areas, architects and city planners have been forced to explore the possibilities of building homes on the water, reports Dezeen.
Spearheaded and advised by the Dutch, whose homeland is dominated by water, many architects are now designing aquatic buildings, homes and schools that can function in both wet and dry spaces.
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“Given the impact of climate change, we can begin to think a lot more about the opportunity for living with water as opposed to fighting it and doing land reclamation,” says Dutch architect Kunlé Adeyemi, who has built a floating school in Lagos and a radio station in the Niger Delta as part of the African Water Cities project.
Other countries benefiting from Dutch expertise include Indonesia, the United States and the United Kingdom, where architects are exploring the possibilities of amphibious houses and prefabricated houseboats.
Prêt-à-Porter
Zaha Hadid’s Volu Dining Pavilion for RevolutionZaha Hadid’s Volu Dining Pavilion for Revolution
Portable structures are another new trend, whereby the structure functions as both a shelter and a work of art and can be installed wherever the owner desires. The recent Design Miami fair saw an entire series of these pavilions, designed by established and rising names in architecture, reports Telegraph Luxury.
“All architecture is bespoke,” said emerging Thai architect, Kulapat Yantrasast, who exhibited his own structure. “This is prêt-à-porter.”
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Other names who participated in the series include Zaha Hadid with the Volu Dining Pavilion, Ron Arad with his Armadillo Tea Pavillion, and Richard Gluckman with the Model Art Pavilion.
“Designing the pavilion gave us the opportunity to create something that is a sculptural object and a frame for the dynamic presentation of art,” explained Gluckman.
The man behind the series – dubbed ‘Revolution’ – is Robbie Antonio of Antonio Development. He said: “I think Revolution will be game-changing. It’s a new approach to architecture. It could extend to selling affordable off-the-peg homes by the world’s best architects.”
Related Links: About Robbie Antonio , Contact
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