Floating Dutch Houses are the Netherlands Solution to Global Warming

The Dutch spend most of their time living in proximity to the water as their land is surrounded by it, so they have decided to make the best out of it. In fact, a significant percentage of their residential areas was a former part of the sea. It has drawn the Netherlands closer to their natural geographic location, and soon enough, progress had been made to make their residences more homely, just like the traditional homes built on solid ground.

This particular neighborhood in Amsterdam shows how people manage to reclaim the ocean and construct their houses on waters.

In Amsterdam, it is pretty normal to see houseboats made by the Dutch in a watery neighborhood, complete with floating establishments like restaurants.

This is due to the Project IJburg, a floating Dutch community project that materialized to solve the growing density of population in Holland, especially in Amsterdam. In accordance with the strict building regulations, IJburg showed to be an intelligent and desirable idea.

This has also given numerous architects the opportunity to design unique houses that would rival architecture on dry land.

Architectenbureau Marlies Rohmer was assigned to design seventy-five homes back in 2001, while the municipal government assembled a team consisting of people who are well-equipped with the fundamentals of waterborne building. Every house’s design is modern, paired with clean lines that blended well with the ocean and the city. The strategic architecture of the buildings also provides its inhabitants with enviable comfort and views. while dykes and jetties are also utilized as roads and sidewalks.

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The plans have used mostly glass in the construction, which gave the environment a unique feel. The dimensions and features of the homes are well-patterned similarly to those built inland.

If you think about it, the location of the floating community is a sensible choice for the Netherlands, which has been formerly dubbed as the low country. Also, with the recent threats about the rising sea levels due to global warming is an unavoidable future that all of us should prepare for. Dwelling on waters also serves multiple usages. The neighborhood may be used as a catchment for precipitation or storm surge, while developing waterfront areas may solve the docking in the land that has become obsolete by the growing changes in industry and economy. With the land areas intensively crowded and developed, it just makes sense that we move certain matters to the sea.

At present, much of Holland’s lowest areas have been artificially created, but the process costs a lot of money, in addition to the complexity of its process.

On the other hand, building on water is far cheaper and faster, making it a more practical option.