So much of our time as architects is spent thinking and designing for projects that live on land, but what about architecture that lives on water? What if you had to design a human dwelling that is not only near the water, but actually in it?

Change a Major Variable…Like the Site

One would think that if you are an architect solely designing for buildings on land it would be a waste of time to think about what it would take to design them on water. But have you considered that by thinking about a design on water, you may actually come up with more innovative design solutions to many of the problems that arise when trying to design for land? For instance, in the following video you will see a hotel design concept that shows a hotel visitor’s room underwater — where you will see their bed, dresser and a couch (just like in a typical hotel room might have).

However, within this “underwater hotel”, a visitor could literally lay in bed and see a complete panorama of the underwater world floating above, as a canopy surrounding their bed. Can you imagine what it would be like to be a visitor there, falling asleep while watching fish and other sea life swim by? I know they say that fish tanks are relaxing, but what about sleeping beneath the ocean?

Kidding aside, by completely changing the type of site you design for, you will begin to think about architecture for your occupants’ experience in entirely new ways. On land, what if you design a room where your occupants could sleep under the stars (instead of beneath the ocean)? What would that be like for them?

To get you thinking out of the box during your design process, you can watch the following video showing various floating architectural structures that have been conceptually developed by architects. All of these designs involve architecture that floats (or is submerged) within the ocean. And while some do not seem to quite “work” there are others that may give you some food for thought.

Remember this: To reach a truly innovative design, change your perspective often.

Here is the video that may make you rethink what it means to “dwell”:

Image Credit: © vinicius.cipriano | Flickr