The BARGE 2011 Design Competition is right around the corner, so here are some examples of floating gardens to help inspire your designs.

Floating gardens are not a new concept. The Aztecs and Egyptians used hydroponics, or growing plants in water without soil, for centuries. Both cultures used this method of planting because the soil on the land was not suitable for farming. The ancient Egyptian not longer exists, but in you can visit the modern day version of the Aztec’s gardens. Today, Mexican farmers use these floating plots to grow vegetables that they then sell in the adjacent floating market. Tourists can hire water taxis to take a tour of these gardens and sample the foods grown in them.

The city of Chicago recently took a different approach to creating floating gardens. They created a floating garden for the Lincoln Park lagoon by using a retired Boston Whaler lifeboat as the garden’s base. Brightly colored tropical plants and bamboo were set into pots on the lifeboat. The floating garden provided a small island of color that kayakers could row around and visitors could enjoy from the land.





Each August in Lanskrona , Sweden , artists construct small floating gardens for the Garden Guild Contest. Similar to Chicago ’s floating garden, these gardens are also built on top of platforms. Each mini garden is unique and some even display patio chairs and tables inviting the onlooker to come visit.









In London , there are residential floating gardens. Located near the Tower Bridge there is a small community of barge dwellers. The people that live there have converted old barges into floating homes. Each year, during the London Open Squares weekend, the public is invited in to view private residential gardens. The barge gardens are part of this voyeuristic event. The gardens are built on top of the barges. Each varies with the tastes of the barge owners. Some have vegetable gardens while others prefer wild flowers. One barge even has a tiny orchard of quinces.





Stateside until 2009, the Science Barge located on Manhattan New York Sunworks ’s water front acted as a floating research facility for 3 years. A completely green structure, the Science Barge created by, housed 2 green houses that grew organic produce. The barge was powered by the wind and sun. Vegetable oil fuel was used to heat the facility and recycled rain water irrigated the crops. The purpose of the barge was to prove that a self sustaining and high yielding urban food source was feasible. New York Sunworks proved that their concept barge could be repeated and used as a viable food source in future urban communities.

GRO Architects of NYC have also designed plans for a floating park. Although, not in production yet, their design displays the possibilities of what an urban landscape of the future can look like. Floating tubes act as walkways that connect green spaces for visitors to enjoy. The earth’s rapid population growth and lack of space in cities inspired the GRO Architects to come up with their floating garden. Their floating park idea generates its own electricity from wave energy and acts as a refuge from the rest of the city.





What floating garden designs can you come up with for the BARGE 2011 Design Competition? We hope these floating garden ideas inspire your imaginations. We’re looking forward to your proposals!



by Liz Tereshko

