A look at a winning Bargework "floating office" competition entry

Mateusz Mastalski, Ole Robin Storjohann, and Karolina Raczka shared with us their winning "Floating Island" entry for the Bargework floating office competition. 

As office spaces continue to be redefined and worldwide sealevels slowly rise, participants had to design a 10 x 40 m. sustainable, innovative office space that includes the possibility of floating on water. Entries also had to include technological products from the brands Aluprof, Drutex, Fakro, Somfy and Soudal.

Out of 135 qualified entries, the jury chose "Floating Island" as one of the six winners.

Check it out right below.

Title: Floating Island
Authors: Mateusz Mastalski (PL/DK), Ole Robin Storjohann (DE/DK) . Karolina Raczka (PL)   

"the conditions:  The nature of working space is in a constant change. We will work with changing people, in changing locations and using changing technologies. Changes in climate and economy will have bold surprises ready. What will prevail into the future is the necessity to meet on a physical level. For conferences, meetings or day-to-day office work. As life and work becomes ever more entangled, we will put the same demands of life quality to our working spaces as to our living spaces.

the concept: Our concept of a floating island workspace can easily change location, city and -- by adding barges together -- size. Its construction is based on a varied steel grid, that can be used for creating cubicles, open offices, shelf systems or room dividers. This steel grid facilitates makes it possible to shape the roof as a continuation of the landscape, creating a huge 'roof terrace' upgrading both the office environment and the visual impact on its surroundings."

"the qualities:  An island is both a symbol of refuge and concentration, and of relaxation and holiday. Inspired by the modernist designs of Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe, we created a highly flexible and movable extension of the landscape. A high quality working environment, with good daylight, views and outdoor space. A cheap construction that can be reassembled, moved and is ready for a world of rising sea levels.

the feasability:  We used readily available products from Polish producers, to root our designs in the existing circumstances.

• standard barge size of 10x40m. 
• facade system from Aluprof makes it possible to design this slick facade designs. 
• office division glass walls from Aluprof MB-EXPO creates the interior flexibility 
• roof windows and solar panels from FAKRO optimizes the use of daylight in the barge."

Images courtesy of project authors.