Floating Markets

From Damnoen Saduak in Thailand, to Siring in Indonesia, to Cai Rang Market in Vietnam, floating markets have existed for millennia and can be found across the world. 

In this studio, we imagined the possibilities for floating markets in the Vancouver region to answer questions like what would it mean to use the water and docks for more than just moorage? How might they connect to the 28 km seawall, aquabus transit systems, and rivers? What might floating structures look like as sea levels rise?

Five groups gathered to explore how to bring public and active markets to the water, on the water through our co-design process. Groups discussed multiple uses for floating structures including floating food production, event or performance spaces,  libraries, affordable housing, climbing walls, and even floating forests! Common themes among groups included a desire to make the water more accessible to everyone, and finding ways to engage with the water sustainably (such as through water-cleaning seaweed and clam gardens, only using biodegradable materials for packaging on floating structures, and using green energy sources like tidal and solar energy).