Since man first started building structures, water has been seen as an obstacle. Raging floods to hurricanes have threatened some of the finest architecture of our time. Chicago – a city full of architectural marvel – has always had its structures under threat of water damage. As a result, special flooding basements were constructed years ago to support the buildings we see from the skyline today.
Students enrolled in architectural CAD courses will be interested to know that today’s architects are looking more towards embracing the natural elements by incorporating water into city planning and, in some cases, the buildings themselves.
The Palm Island Project: China
Designed by an Australian architect, China’s Palm Island Project is like the miniature Virgin Islands of restaurants. On the banks of the Qingnian Reservoir in Chongqing, Palm Island is comprised of five curvilinear restaurant buildings that appear to float on the water like their own little islands. By day, the buildings catch the sunlight as it dances on the water; by night, their reflections shine thanks to inquisitively lighted building fronts.
The restaurants’ service stations and kitchens are hidden below the waterline so as not to obstruct diners’ views of the gorgeous lakeside. The harvested water recycles energy to keep the restaurant environmentally friendly – an interesting insight for students in CAD courses who are always on the lookout for eco-friendly designs
Water in Urban Architecture
A common trend today is blending water with urban designs. Like trees and green space, water offers a peaceful respite from the stressful hustle and bustle of the city. When shallow and transparent pools of water drift lightly over concrete, it can enhance parks like France’s Place de la Republique. This kind of urban oasis is also on display in Montreal during the summer, whose Place Des Arts is dotted with fountains shooting shallow streams of water on the walkways of downtown.
Vöcklabruck’s Sunken Observation Deck
This Austrian observation deck is submerged in a lake so that the water touches its edges but visitors remain completely dry on a sunken platform. This means visitors can experience figuratively walking into a lake – there’s even a wraparound bench on the observation deck designed for contemplating the surroundings.
Nature in the Centre of London
It is becoming popular for professionals to use their CAD training to reproduce the wonders of nature within the confines of a busy city. Such is the case with London’s Mayfair fountain. Right in the centre of London, atomizers at the bottom of this fountain spray off misty clouds of water every 15 seconds. At night, fiber-optic lights below the sculpture illuminate the surrounding trees.
In what dynamic ways might you incorporate water into a design?
