East Sussex, UK
Warren Farm FLOATING FUTURES
Project Build Length: 3 Weeks
Project Leaders: Abdu Mahdi, Serena Walker, Aaron Chan, Tom Hall
Participants: Sabrina Pires Vieira, Isabelle Lloyd, Mohamad Salem, Silvia Álvarez Lozano, Eliana Dyer Fernandes, Hristislava Arabadzhieva, May Thu Aung, Chania Coombs, Ariya Chib, Ayesha Yousuf, Aubrey Armstrong, Mahnoor Khalid
Project Brief: In response to the growing threat of climate change and flooding across the UK, the Floating Futures project at Warren Farm invited participants to imagine a future where architecture must adapt to rising waters. Situated on a regenerative farm site that regularly floods, the brief called for a pair of experimental, floating structures that embody adaptability, circularity, and low-impact construction. Partnering with Cherry Wood Adventures and Longbridge, the project involved young learners in the design and build phases, fostering creativity, sustainability, and a deeper connection with nature.
Project Partners: Longbridge, Cherry Wood Adventures, Inndexx
Our Services: Brief Development, Concept Design, Developed Design, Technical Design, Construction, Project Management and Educational Workshop Delivery.
Photographs: Eliana Dyer Fernandes
Sustainable Development Goals Supported:
The Floating Futures project at Warren Farm represents a playful yet purposeful response to the escalating threat of flooding in the UK. Developed and built through CAUKIN Studio’s participatory design and build methodology, the project provided participants with the opportunity to co-create architectural solutions that embrace the climate challenges of the future - rather than resist them.
The project was rooted in a provocation: how might buildings adapt to wetland or flood-prone landscapes as they become more prevalent in the UK and globally? The initial concept was led by young designer Harriet Ellis, whose early ideas explored buoyant architecture which addresses the climate issues we face. Her proposals experimented with geometry and modularity which influenced the design process.
Taking inspiration from Harriet’s concepts, the final forms evolved into two symmetrical triangular structures that balanced architectural clarity with practical necessity. The symmetry was both aesthetic and functional - ensuring even weight distribution and a low centre of gravity, critical for stability when afloat. The final triangular design offered structural strength and formal elegance while keeping the platform safe and stable on water.
Before being permanently located, the larger structure was floated in the nearby river to test its design -successfully holding 15 people!
Floating Futures is CAUKIN’s fifth collaboration with Longbridge on the Warren Farm site, reinforcing a shared belief that young people, hands-on learning, and community-led design are essential drivers of a resilient built environment. It is both a playful experiment and a serious response to our shifting climate landscape.
Two floating rafts were constructed, each capable of supporting 800kg, thanks to the strategic use of reused blue oil barrels secured beneath robust timber frames. These up-cycled components underscored the project’s commitment to circularity and embodied low-carbon construction principles.
Of the two structures, one offered a more enclosed interior, insulated using sheep wool shorn directly from Warren Farm’s flock. This material choice not only reduced environmental impact but completed a full material loop - from farm to building, providing a narrative of local sourcing and regenerative design.
As the structures will be sited on a flood-prone field, they were designed to rest on land most of the year but rise with floodwaters when needed. Their lightweight, modular construction allowed them to be transported on a standard vehicle trailer, meeting planning requirements for temporary structures while also supporting ease of relocation.
We would like to say a huge thank you to Cherry Wood Adventures, Longbridge, the children who joined the sessions and as always, our amazing participants!
