“Stadskas” is a project designed for the Rhine-Harbour Area in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It is a floating greenhouse that aims to connect the city's population with the water as an urban space. In the framework of the development and “colonisation” of the vast areas of former city-harbours of Rotterdam it has a substantial connection with water and with the future of water-life in this city. The water surface in the Netherlands will increasingly be included in the visions of the development of sustainable cities.

The stadskas combines sustainability and urbanity. Living in urban conditions disconnects us from the sources of our nutrition. This project deals with questions of innovative production of our daily consumption of fruit and vegetables and creates a unique water-based setting to experience these.

With its combination of urban farming, conference / exhibition center, food and retail, the floating greenhouse is offering a unique mix of growing vegetables, healthy eating, organic shopping and “green” lifestyle in the midst of the former harbor area.

The “stadskas” merges ecological awareness and urban leisure with an inspiring scenery and the view to the rising towers of the Wilhelmina pier development.

An existing steel pontoon - originally used as a flexible platform - is reused as “floating foundation”. The recycling / C2C aspect of the otherwise abandoned structure is part of the sustainability concept of the project. A lifted concrete deck supports the steel structure of the greenhouse and comprises the parking layer. The construction of the greenhouse is based on the standard measurements of Dutch greenhouses used for food production. The extra height of 6m offers the possibility for an extension of a second layer.

The floating greenhouse is a flexible project that can be moved to other locations in the numerous harbors of Rotterdam. As a case study it could be realized in different cities in Europe or elsewhere in densely populated places by the water. The stadskas also contributes to the opportunities of urban development in the times of rising sea levels.