A floating building is a building unit with a
flotation system at its base, to allow it to float on water. It is common to define such a building as being "permanently moored" and not usable in navigation. Floating buildings are usually towed into location by another ship and are unable to move under their own power.
Floating buildings have environmental benefits such as unsusceptibility to changes in
sea level
Mean sea level (MSL, often shortened to sea level) is an mean, average surface level of one or more among Earth's coastal Body of water, bodies of water from which heights such as elevation may be measured. The global MSL is a type of vertical ...
, and minimisation of disturbance to the ecology of the harbour or
seabed
The seabed (also known as the seafloor, sea floor, ocean floor, and ocean bottom) is the bottom of the ocean. All floors of the ocean are known as seabeds.
The structure of the seabed of the global ocean is governed by plate tectonics. Most of ...
. They can be built off-site and then towed into location,
minimising disturbance to the build site. If the building is decommissioned, it can be relocated elsewhere.
See also
*
Very large floating structure
Very large floating structures (VLFSs) or very large floating platforms (VLFPs) are artificial islands, which may be constructed to create floating airports, bridges, breakwaters, piers and docks, storage facilities (for oil and natural gas), ...
References
External links
The Floating Architecture of Rotterdam, Holland*
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Building
A building or edifice is an enclosed Structure#Load-bearing, structure with a roof, walls and window, windows, usually standing permanently in one place, such as a house or factory. Buildings come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and functions, a ...