the potential of architecture on water
Copenhagen-based studio MAST has been making waves in the realm of architectural innovation with its stunning floating structures. From a floating sauna and a bouldering wall to an off-grid villa, its designs demonstrate a commitment to unique, climate-resilient architecture which offers the novel experience of being surrounded by water in all directions. The following three projects exemplify the wide-ranging possibilities of floating architecture, as the maritime architecture studio works with all typologies and scales — from these small and finely crafted installations to development plans for new waterfront districts.
image © Gabriele Gualdi | @gabriele.gualdi
A Soothing Retreat: the Floating Sauna and Harbor Bath
The team at MAST has joined forces with the Municipality of Copenhagen to create a work of floating architecture housing a sauna and harbor bath, set to open for residents and tourists. This project, expected to open in Autumn 2023, combines Scandinavian wellness with breathtaking waterfront views. The sauna accommodates up to fifteen guests and opens through a panoramic window overlooking the serene waters. Adjacent to the sauna, a small changing room with storage facilities and a wooden deck provides direct access to the harbor bath, inviting visitors to take a refreshing plunge in one of the world’s cleanest harbors.
the floating structure integrates a sauna and harbor bath | image © Gabriele Gualdi
Designed to be modular and portable, the sauna features eco-friendly materials, including cross-laminated timber and wood fiber insulation, coupled with a state-of-the-art hidden electric heating system. This flexibility allows for easy relocation to different locations using a tow boat. As MAST Architects continues their mission to reconnect cities to the sea in a sustainable manner, a second sauna is already in the works and slated for a year-end unveiling.
from a wooden deck, visitors can take a plunge in one of the world’s cleanest harbors | image © Gabriele Gualdi
the sauna hosts up to fifteen guests and opens through a large window viewing the water | image © Gabriele Gualdi
Havneklippen: the Floating Bouldering Wall
Dubbed ‘The Harbour Cliff’ or ‘Havneklippen’ in Danish, MAST’s groundbreaking work of floating architecture brings the thrill of deep-water soloing to Copenhagen’s harbor. This pioneering effort introduces the world’s first free-floating open bouldering gym, situated at the heart of a popular swimming spot in the harbor. Visitors can swim to the structure and tackle various climbing routes along three slightly inverted ledges. Among the challenges, a particularly demanding route, equivalent to a 7A on the Font Scale grading system, includes a 4.5-meter (14.8-foot) climb with a difficult jump to reach the final hold.
the project introduces the world’s first free-floating open bouldering gym | image © MAST
This initiative marks yet another step in transforming Copenhagen’s harbor from an industrial zone into a recreational haven. MAST Architects, known for their floating island parks and houseboat developments, continues their mission to establish sustainable and climate-resilient connections between cities and the sea. ‘Havneklippen’ was initially developed in collaboration with the Municipality of Copenhagen for the Kulturhavn festival, with plans to reintroduce it in the summer of 2024.
the team plans to reintroduce the structure for the summer of 2024 | image © MAST
Copenhagen’s harbor transforms from an industrial zone into a recreational haven | image © MAST
Sustainable Oasis: mast’s Floating Villa in the Maldives
MAST Architects’ collaboration with local NGO ‘The Eco Org’ in the Maldives promises a groundbreaking alternative to land reclamation. In a bid to combat the costly and ecologically harmful practice of land reclamation, the studio presented an off-grid floating villa to government ministers in August, offering a unique, sustainable solution for tourism development. The Maldives, an archipelago of 1,200 low-lying tropical islands, has witnessed a surge in land reclamation due to increasing tourism demands and limited accessible land. Traditional luxury resort construction often involves burying coral reefs with sand, harming these ecosystems and altering ocean currents. Furthermore, it typically requires transplanting mature trees and palms from other islands.
MAST promises a fresh alternative to land reclamation | image © Pi Visual
MAST’s villas in the form of floating architecture villas sidestep these destructive practices by anchoring in protected lagoon areas, minimizing their impact on marine ecosystems. Guests are treated to an exclusive experience with private views from two spacious bedrooms, bathrooms, a living room, and access to a protected courtyard garden and a curving wooden roof terrace. These floating villas incorporate cutting-edge technologies, including solar cells, battery packs, on-board sewage treatment, and watermakers, ensuring a high-end villa experience virtually indistinguishable from land-based resorts—except for the gentle sway in high winds and the exciting arrival by electric boat, swimming, or paddleboard.
the villa will host two bedrooms, bathrooms, a living room, and access to a courtyard garden and roof terrace | image © Pi Visual
floating villas sidestep destructive practices by anchoring in protected lagoon areas | image © Pi Visual
project info:
project titles: Floating Sauna and Harbor Bath, ‘Havneklippen’ Harbor Cliff, ‘The Eco Org’ Villa
architecture: MAST | @MAST_denmark
photography: © Gabriele Gualdi | @gabriele.gualdi
