Venice the floatting city

V e n i c e: T h e f l o a t i n g C i t y Venice is surrounded by water; it is located within a lagoon and made up of 118 islands linked by 453 bridges. The bridges are a dominant feature in the city and provide visual interest, historical context and a poetic rhythm across the landscape. The city has one main Venetian public square, the Piazza San Marco; the remaining open spaces are small Campos surrounded by buildings that vary in size.

The majority of Venice’s open spaces are small enclosures and the city lacks large public spaces that are open and large public areas that are essential destination points. Venice is closely connected with water and this proposal aims to invite the ecological aspect of water and a closer experience of water in the landscape.
F l o a t i n g W a t e r G a r d e n s
The scheme is for a series of floating gardens, which promote a more holistic ecological approach to
monitoring and managing water and the reduction of water pollution, thus minimising damage to the
environment. This is combined with water recycling methods and storage for irrigation of plants and
recreational use.
The basis of the proposal is for an urban solution for cleaner water utilising (S.U.D.S.) sustainable urban
drainage systems. The concept of SUDS includes long term environmental factors in decisions about
drainage whilst being utilised into the design of the landscape. Rainwater can be a significant source of
pollution by concentrating atmospheric pollutants as well as oil residues, hydrocarbons and suspended solids carried by run-off mainly from streets and also paved areas. A SUDS system can be designed to minimise the problems caused by conventional piped drainage systems, these being – flooding, pollution and also damage to the environment.
City Flooding
The proposed floating gardens respond to the dangers associated with Venice when areas temporarily flood.
When flooding levels of the lagoon rise, the new floating gardens / public open spaces rise with the lagoon
level and could potentially provide a place of temporary refuge for safety.
Water recreation.
The scheme will incorporate water filtration, water collection & water recycling to provide amenity elements
such as:
Play with water – Water play areas using recycled water powered by intelligent solar powered fountains.
• Walk through water
• Walk on water
• Water fun – water games created with the urban landscape design.
• Water Sculptures.
• Quiet areas with water related features for solitude.
Accommodation – Sustainable and Ecological Architecture
The floating gardens contain a combination of cafés, restaurants and living accommodation to provide relief
for a requirement for more modern living accommodation for younger workers in the city and natural policing
during the day and night. All new building proposals will enable an opportunity to integrate modern ecological
designs. Elements such as green roofs and water features around the building will not only add to the visual
and amenity feature but also assist the source and site control of the SUDS system.
Floating Water Gardens – Location(s)
The floating gardens can be positioned in strategic areas located across the city, due to the nature and
stability of their design and because the Lagoon is not subject to large waves the positions of the gardens
could be relocated to other areas of the city, providing the facility to other local areas.
Night Illumination & Public Events
The gardens comprise both a subtle night illumination proposal responding to the historical aspect of the city
by creating appropriately lit urban spaces. This new opportunity would also allow light and water features to
work together creatively, further enhancing the amenity aspect of this proposal. The floating water gardens
will also provide an alternative contemporary and striking night illumination proposals – extending the
celebration of water with the City of Venice – to respond to and compliment such events as the Venice
Carnival and the Venice Biennale.
Public open spaces
The gardens could incorporate a series of public open spaces including quiet areas and open-air theatres of
varying sizes to accommodate public events, including part sheltered spaces (reducing the effect of the
prevailing winds across the Lagoon).