WATER PEOPLE
MAST makes the case for bringing everyday life onto the water
Much has been written about the potential for development in the water as a solution to our climate woes, or a kind of crypto-libertarian dream.
And while we do admire some of those ambitions, we’ve been increasingly drawn to projects that make the water feel like part of the city. Real projects that real people can live in, swim from, have a beer on, and enjoy.
MAST makes the case that we can be a lot simpler (but no less considered) in our ambitions for life on the water, with projects like Bedding 1 and Sauna KKF that feel more like extensions of cities than speculative visions for the future.
We found ourselves sat next to the founder of Plus Pool not too long ago and asked her about the motivation behind building a pool in the East River, expecting a lofty statement about the environment, climate resilience, or some grand vision for the future.
“People just want to swim.”
Delightful. MAST seems to agree.
For Sauna KKF, MAST worked with the city of Copenhagen to design a place on the water that would feel as normal as spending time beside it.
KBHØ1 is the first in a planned archipelago of floating islands, it creates new places to swim, kayak, fish, and gather throughout Copenhagen’s harbor. Who said public parks had to be on land?
For all the talk of floating cities, Slusen is interested in something much simpler. Built within a former shipyard, the floating neighborhood brings together homes, workshops, gardens, and shared spaces on the water.
Moored alongside Paper Island, Bedding 1 is a floating guesthouse and community space by Arcgency and MAST. It’s the first piece of a larger vision for the harbor, where the water becomes a place to meet friends, spend the night, or hang around for a while.
Consider us part of the MAST fan club.