The Ultimate Tower – Burj Dubai - Busch-Jaeger Elektro GmbH

» In Practice
Living on Water
On the Kieler Förder one can find the prototype
of the first floating low-energy house.
A team of architects, ship-builders and engineers
have succeeded in developing a new
house using modern technology and a
resource-saving construction which fulfills the
highest expectations of comfort. All this was
achieved on a minimal plot size with a free
view over the water.
By Cornelia Krause
To live by the water was always seen as the privilege of
particularly prosperous citizens, and those living on the
water tend to be seen as being on the edge of society.
The hidden places at the water’s edge which are used for
living and/ or working today are seldom officially permitted
and then usually only provisionally and in the
form of used barges which are a thorn in the authority's
side. When freed of this negative image, however, an
excellent idea remains and that is that with innovative
thinking and newest technology the banks of rivers, lakes
or deserted harbour basins can become absolutely socially
acceptable and usable for urban building.
As is so often the case, the new is created from altered
economical conditions. The globalised market has forced
the Kieler Friedrich boatyard to concentrate elsewhere
than on its core business (ship-building) in order to ensure
the company's long-term survival.
The idea of floating houses is a niche which can very
quickly spread and become successful. Where else can
one find affordable waterside plots of land in such little
space? However, this type of settlement requires careful
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Oliver Heissner