The floating farm is essentially a compact, three-story structure that houses 40 dairy cows. The Floating Farm is located in the port of the M4H development zone in Rotterdam, an area that aims to stimulate and facilitate innovative and experimental activities. The design is, in essence, a farm building based on nautical principles.

Organization, structural principles, and the use of materials are used to improve buoyancy and stability. The result is an overlapping organization that places all heavy structural and technical components in the submerged part of the building. All important and transparent functions are located in a light structure at the top.

The result is a façade with three layers ranging from concrete to translucent polycarbonate and full opening. Three interconnected concrete pontoons house fruit production (yogurt ingredients), rainwater and wastewater recycling and additional facilities. The upper floor of the plant combines milk and yogurt processing, feeding system, manure handling and retail. 

The covered cow garden is supported by a manure cleaning robot and a milking robot, as well as various animal welfare features. The two galleries that surround the cow garden, connected vertically by two steel bridges, link several evocative spaces to form an educational path. Along this route, visitors have a glimpse of all the farm's activities without interrupting the cultivation process.

Used materials :

1. Sandwich totaal - inner walls & interior sliding doors

2. Brett Martin - polycarbonate facade panels & exterior sliding doors

3. Dejo - steel grated floor panels

4. V17 Agro - rubber floor matting cowgarden

5. Kagetec - Floor tiling       

6. Benecke - concrete pontoons

7. Airkoe - exterior curtain system

8. Easyfix - cow cubicles & fencing

9. Lely - milking- & manure robots

10. Hemelswater - rainwater re-use installation