# Biodiverse Floating Housing Developments MAST Creates a Floating Neighborhood in Europe By Amy Duong | Published 2025-05-24 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/floating-neighborhood References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2025/05/23/largest-floating-housing-development-europe-rotterdam-mast/) & [mast.dk](https://mast.dk/)  Architecture firm [MAST](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mast) has designed a [floating neighborhood comprised of residential buildings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holocene-house) on a diused dock in Rotterdam. It will only accessible by boat and is made up of a series of connected blocks. Dubbed the Spoorweghaven development, it will have 100 affordable homes, along with commercial units, public areas, and rooftop gardens. MAST founding partner Marshall Blecher told [Dezeen](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seestadt-aspern-housing), "The project hopes to demonstrate floating architecture as a viable scalable alternative to conventional housing – one that embraces water as a living part of the city. [...] At a time when many low-lying cities are turning their backs on the water with high quays and hard barriers this project offers another approach – one that restores a direct everyday connection to the harbour." Image Credit: Slim Studio ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.9/10 - Popularity: 7% | Activity: 10% | Freshness: 41% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Sustainable Floating Architecture:** Floating neighborhoods provide a scalable solution to urban housing challenges, leveraging water for sustainable expansion in densely populated areas. - **Water-integrated Urban Planning:** Incorporating waterways into city design redefines urban landscapes, encouraging ecosystems to thrive alongside residential and commercial developments. - **Affordable Blue Infrastructure:** Developing cost-effective floating housing presents new opportunities for accessible living spaces that can adapt to rising sea levels in coastal regions. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Architecture and Urban Design:** Architects are exploring innovative designs that incorporate natural marine environments, expanding the scope of where communities can be built. - **Sustainable Real Estate:** Real estate professionals are redefining investment value with floating developments, emphasizing eco-friendly construction and sustainable living. - **Renewable Marine Energy:** The integration of floating housing with renewable energy systems sparks potential for marine-based energy solutions to power future communities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Recycled Plastic Floating Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mast.md) - [Upcoming Architectural Floating Parks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/centroparco.md) - [Captivating Stilt-House Hotels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mast-1.md) - [Sustainable Floating Cork Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-float-1.md) - [Modern Floating Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pura-vida-floating-home.md) - [Flax Fiber Floating Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blue-nomad.md) - [Lush Garden Housing Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/volante.md) - [Floating Marine Park Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smrket.md) - [Sleek Compact Floating Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blatto-boat.md)