Due to global warming and the subsequent rise of the sea level, scarcity of land to build on, the continues increase of the world’s population and a shift in population from rural areas to the city, there is a need for innovative projects to tackle or deal with the increase of needed liveable area. One of the solutions is floating cities. A component of a modern city is high-rise buildings. High-rise is an advantageous option to deal with the limited availability of ground surface on the floating platforms. The question is whether it is possible to realise these floating high-rise structures.
This research investigates whether it is possible to realise high-rise buildings on floating platforms with limited dimensions on the sea or ocean regarding stability. And if it is feasible, what the requirements are for the general dimensions of both the platform and the high-rise building. For this purpose, conditions were used from three representative locations. At these three locations, the floating high-rise is tested for four different wave situations: Tsunami, Growing waves, most extreme wave. And an Irregular wave field. The platform and building are tested whether the structure could meet the various requirements and regulations. These are divided into three forms of stability: Buoyancy, static stability and dynamic stability.
In this study, for both the platform and the building a square cross-section is used and both are prismatic in the direction of the height. The platform and the core of the building are made of concrete. Apart from the four parameters: height of the building and width, height and depth of the platform all other parameters are based on these four parameters. No stability systems in the building were used (except the core), nor methods to keep the platform in place, such as mooring systems.
For the buoyancy, mainly the relation between the mass and the depth of the platform is determined. This is a relationship that has been used extensively in static and dynamic stability. The mass of the building and platform pose few problems for staying afloat. In fact, extra ballast water can easily be used to make the platform heavier in order to achieve the desired mass or depth.
For the static stability a combination of hand calculations based on the GM-method and a model that can include deformations in the calculations as well is used. A linear relationship was found between the height of the building and the width of the platform for which the floating high-rise is stable.
The model is used to determine the minimum platform depth and height, as well as the rotation for different building heights and platform widths. It follows that there are platform widths for which the vertical force is minimal. This is when the width of the platform is equal to the wavelength of the wave or a multiple of it. In addition, there are platform widths for which the moment due to the wave force on the platform is minimal. These values are called "zero moment widths" because for these widths the wave moment, regardless of position or time, is approximately equal to 0 kNm. Therefore the rotation is minimal when these zero moment widths are used for the platform width. These widths are only optimal for the specific wavelength for which they are calculated. If the wavelength is different, the zero moment widths will be different.
For the dynamic stability, a model consisting of three point masses distributed over the height connected with a beam was used. The three point masses each have three degrees of freedom: vertical and horizontal translation and rotation. With this model the accelerations of the three possible motions for different heights of the building, platform widths and platform masses (this can be adjusted by including ballast water) are calculated. It follows that: The tsunami and the growing wave are not a problem and the most extreme wave or the irregular wave field is normative; The vertical acceleration is minimal when the width of the platform is equal to the wavelength or a multiple of it; The vertical acceleration is only normative for small building heights and platform widths, whereas it is the biggest cause of seasickness; The horizontal acceleration at the top of the building due to both the horizontal motion and the rotation is almost always normative. It is largely caused by the rotation of the platform; If the zero moment widths are used for the width of the platform, the rotation and thus the horizontal acceleration is minimal. This does not mean that the accelerations are below the limit.
In order to avoid resonance in the motion, and thus extreme accelerations, of the floating high-rise with an irregular wave field, graphs are made were the combination of the height of the building and the width of the platform that result in resonance are shaded.
Using the results of the static and dynamic analysis and a few case studies, it can be concluded that with the design choices and simplifications used, it is not possible to realise floating high-rise buildings on platforms with limited dimension at the North Sea and the North of the Atlantic ocean due to too extreme condition causing too high accelerations, especially in the horizontal motion. The static stability and the buoyancy are less of a problem. If one of these locations is chosen, platforms over 600 m wide are required that are so stable that the rotation of the platform is minimal and no resonance occurs in the rotation motion. In this case, the conditions are similar to those on land and the wind force becomes the governing factor. In those cases, the same approach and measures should be used as for high-rise buildings on land. Even with these sizes, it is advised to use the zero moment widths to limit the rotation as much as possible.
The location on the Atlantic Ocean around the equator is the only location that is promising. The results show that several building heights are possible on different platform dimensions for the highest wave, as long as the platforms have the zero moment widths dimensions. However, it appears that the accelerations become too high when these sizes for the building and platform are tested with different wave frequencies with lower wave heights. Therefore, this option might not be suitable either, but it is not excluded in this research. One option is found that meets the regulations for all possible wave frequencies is a 50 m building on a platform 223 m wide (a zero moment width) and 22.7 m deep for the location around the equator. This proves that it is possible to construct high-rise buildings on platforms of limited size with the design choices used, but that it is very difficult and the options are limited.
Despite the conclusion that it is almost impossible with the design choices, floating high-rise buildings on limited platforms are still expected to be possible as the design can be improved. The first next steps to investigate are other, better shapes for the platform and building to increase stability and reduce overall forces. In addition, it is recommended that other methods of increasing stability and reducing motion, such as building stabilisation systems and tuned mass dampers, are investigated. With these improvements floating high-rise is more feasible than found in this research.

An increasing trend of urbanization, land shortages and frequent floodings have created unfavorable living circumstances for Philippine inhabitants. Finch Floating Homes aims to repurpose the permanently flooded ricefields in Hagonoy into flood-proof, typhoon-resilient, affordable housing. The floating neighborhood will serve as storm-resilient living and have an educational purpose on circular living and recovering resources. The pilot floating home is equipped according to current sanitation practices, a septic tank. The septic tanks are usually emptied in drainage fields or surface water. With the aim of circularity in mind, an alternative sanitation had to be designed.

The neighborhood aspects and social implications were analyzed after which a set of eight design criteria were drafted. With the design criteria a framework was set up for selecting a flexible sanitation system that fits a range of desired effluent qualities. The framework offered treatment compartments that can be combined depending upon the location and effluent requirements. Three different treatment scenarios were compared based on the effluent qualities and costs. Scenario 2 containing a UASB-septic tank as primary treatment and a polishing step with water hyacinths, was found to be the most cost-effective. A final effluent concentration of 3 g/L COD, 0,05 mg/L NH3 and between 53 and 134 mg/L P was reached. And based on the die-off of E.coli, a pathogen removal of 5 log units was achieved.

Next, the conceptualization was laid out. The platforms on which the houses float, were made up of standard modules that were prefabricated and assembled on-site. Rainbarrels in wooden frames provided floating ability. The UASB-septic tank had similar dimensions as the rainbarrels, meaning no specialized treatment platform had to be built since the reactor could take the place of a rainbarrel. The disinfection tubes are placed on top of the platform and could be added at any time if the effluent quality demands a low pathogen level.
The final polishing pond was constructed from locally sourced materials and can be built in any shape that suits the neighborhood as long as the surface area is 17 m2.

The treatment system also offered possibilities for resource recovery in the form of biogas, irrigation water, fertilizer and reuse of the plant mass (food, extra COD, fabric raw materials). The residents could benefit from the biogas in the form of a communal kitchen suitable for social gatherings. The fertilizer and irrigation water were applied in communal gardens. Communal areas aided in improving relations between neighbors which created a pleasant environment.

The final treatment design was a scalable, affordable and sustainable treatment system with a range of resource recovery possibilities.

The Philippines is a country where most of the human settlements are on the coast. Rapid urbanisation caused by economic development and annual population increment affects the housing situation in the country. In addition, climate change has increased the prevalence of natural disasters, such as floods, typhoons, rising sea levels, tidal movement, and heavy rainfall. In the city of Hagonoy, citizens struggle with the effects of natural disasters, particularly in housing conditions. Typically, locals employ ad-hoc solutions suchlike raising the dwelling one floor higher every few years, which is a costly and inefficient solution in the long term.
The Filipino society is a close-knit ecosystem formed by different stakeholders with contrasting interests and needs. When combining the stakeholders with the increasing environmental pressures, it becomes an even more complex problem. This thesis presents an exploration in implementing long-lasting solutions in coastal rural areas to form resilient communities in the light of the arising problems.
A holistic approach is necessary to generate a neighbourhood that corresponds to the living conditions and resists natural hazards. Firstly, literature and historical research were done to study the events that generated the current society. Secondly, participatory design sessions involved the end-user in the designing process and explored their daily needs. Then these insights were brought together in a system map of people, elements and spaces, and a city map, visualising locals' desires for the future community and analysing the solution space. Finally, the co-design of a floating neighbourhood was conceptualised based on an existing pilot floating home and the required living conditions.
The generated hybrid neighbourhood shows potential to create a resilient neighbourhood where the citizens' desires are placed in the middle of the community planning. Accessibility, sociability and incrementality attributes were perceived as vital to ensuring social acceptance.
The neighbourhood extension illustrates the community's possibility to grow and increment in a non-invasive manner while respecting the dynamics of the existing city. On this basis, the concept of co-creating a hybrid neighbourhood should be considered when designing resilient communities in coastal rural areas in the Philippines and countries under similar circumstances

With increasing adoption of modular construction in the residential sector, its adoption in the Dutch healthcare sector is studied. Whilst the initial costs can be higher, this method of construction claims to have cost benefits over conventional construction. These are the benefits of construction speed and residual value at the end of lifespan amongst others. Modular buildings are also often advertised as sustainable, because the credentials gained from lean manufacturing coincide with a selection of sustainability objectives [1]. Healthcare projects have higher requirements and process hurdles, which make construction in healthcare much more complex than in the residential sector. However, in the UK, a study of offsite manufacture and modular volumetric construction methods concluded it to be the cost efficient solution necessary for the NHS, which led to 40 modular hospitals planned to be built until the year 2030 [2]. This means that the benefits and drawbacks of a modular approach must be weighed, and this is done in the Dutch context. A life cycle costing is proposed as the fitting tool of assessment.

Interviews were held with Dutch modular contractors to reveal the capabilities and specifics of building in a modular way and find proof for each cost factor. Experts in healthcare construction were interviewed to determine healthcare project priorities and find out whether these are catered for by modular construction. A live construction project of a hotfloor department was then studied. Several options competed in the tender project and were compared in the case study. By collecting the cost quotes and arguing for the monetary value of the identified cost factors, a life cycle cost calculation was done. Additionally, sustainability was considered by calculating the novel carbon tax. To expand the application of results to other projects, sensitivity studies were carried out for each life cycle cost parameter.

The study found that there is application for modular construction in healthcare in the Netherlands. Facilities, which do not host medical installations, do not differ to the construction used in residential modules. As for facilities such as the studied hotfloor department, larger modules and a lesser degree of finish offsite decreases the competitiveness of this construction approach. However, several evident cost factors were proposed to be considered within a life cycle costing. These were earlier income due to faster construction, a gain due to less interest and the residual value. It was found that these considerations allow for a 49,0% increase on the initial cost of a modular option in comparison to a conventional option. A hypothesis was further proposed, stating that the competitiveness of the modular option depends on three criteria. These include the initial modular option costs being up to 49,0% more expensive; the saving in construction time having a monetary value to the client; and life cycle costing results being used in total cost comparison.

This graduation thesis comprises a feasibility study and design of a floating classroom which can offer students a safe learning environment in typhoon and flood-prone areas by designing a classroom which is typhoon resilient with a floating foundation. This research is a follow-up study to the Finch Floating Homes project. One month of field research has provided more insight into the local problems in the schools, climate, materials and wishes from the school. These insights in combination with a literature study on school design, typhoon resiliency and indoor comfort are the basic principles for the design. Additional parameters are set up by analyzing the Finch Floating Home and the Makoko floating school and the design principles of the Finch’s buildings. In the design framework, there is a design analysis in which the choices for the design are explained followed by a structural analysis in which the design is tested for its resistance to high wind speeds that can occur with a typhoon and for its buoyancy by using the calculation software Technosoft and Axisvm. Also, passive design strategies which are implemented in the design are explained to make the classroom indoor comfortable. The result is a design of a floating classroom that is able to offer the students a safe and comfortable learning environment which is ready to be built.