Above The Sea

The purpose of the floating community project Above The Sea is to investigate how to create space within the urban environment and offer an alternative and sustainable approach to urban development, housing shortages and climate change. With densely populated cities, floating communities becomes an innovative way of creating oases within the urban fabric, where they are able to be self-sustainable with the purpose of being eco-friendly while strengthening the community, keeping it united and cooperative. Electricity and water are separated and managed by a smart grid that runs through the jetty connected to the floating houses, allowing them to share, store and monitor energy. The challenge with floating communities is to keep costs down while still maintaining interest. This project thereby focuses on shared living spaces, open farmlands on community docks and a smaller office unit rather than several greenhouses and a larger communal building, keeping energy demands low while also allowing the community freedom to shape their own environment. With consideration of its location of Äppelviken in Stockholm, site requirements and the Scandinavian climate, Above the Sea aims to be a part of envisioning ideas of innovative and alternative residential expansion.