Lily Pad Urbanism: Reimagining Seattle's Floating Home Community

Abstract

Today Seattle’s floating home community’s hinder public water access, and are regarded as a non-preferred use of shoreline environments. This urban condition has caused decline of the floating community during the late twentieth and early twenty-first century. Although historically representing an inclusive housing, the remaining community it has become a symbol of gentrification in the city of Seattle. This thesis argues that new floating communities could positively contribute to urbanity, but argues that designers need to fully understand the political and environmental issues that have currently discouraged there implementation. It hopes to inform the reader on the potential of floating communities, and the potential impact on water-bodies and landscapes, by encouraging a respectful approach to new floating designs in relationship to Seattle’s urban future.