Designing adaptable, resilient dwellings for a sustainable future. A proposition which embraces the inevitable change in our global environment.

The Historic past, where the docklands fuelled international trade is a bygone era. Instead, today, the idleness of the unembellished, unassuming dock juxtaposes its former identity of a buzzing active space. My scheme reimagines the dock as an ecologically rich habitat where both nature and humans thrive. Floating dwellings provide an expansion of the existing urban realm and their underwater foundations, generate a bio-diverse natural habitat.

Floating infrastructure is achieved through a system of flat packed modules similar to gabion construction where rubble creates strong, low-cost foundations, however the concept is inverted, and the modular cages are filled with upcycled flotation supporting the weight of structures above. My scheme aims to expand the current residential territory onto the water, make use of shared amenities such as gardens, green spaces, and recreational areas to help create a strong sense of community among residents and encourage a sense of belonging and connection to the place where they live.

In this way, ‘Bluefield construction’ can help to address the shortage of affordable homes in Cardiff, provide unique a living experience by focusing on the Cities lost relationship to its waterways and helping to densifying the city. The new journey through the dockland is a playful, engaging thoroughfare where Kiosks, Cafes and public parks re-create an active site which the city benefits from. This type of development offers a potential for sustainability, where through innovative construction we can create new housing without having to acquire additional land or displace existing residents. This can help to address our changing environment and provide a unique living experience.

The new floating neighbourhood becomes an urban ecosystem embedded within the fabric of the city: making full use of water for use and re-use, and minimizing waste through extending the buildings lifespan, plus creating space for natural biodiversity. Crucially, this type of construction can combat increasing sea levels as it is able to rise and fall with the water level.