Changing the tide of sustainability: award winning international project 

From a mid-life career change to an award-winning design for an innovative, sustainable floating marina, student architect Cor Bosman of the University of Pretoria (UP) is making waves. 

The fourth Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous was held at the Yacht Club de Monaco, supported by the Fondation Prince Albert II De Monaco. 

During the two-day event in Monaco, the winners of the Monaco Smart Marina Awards were announced and awarded. The awards were judged in three categories, namely Start-up, Marina and Architecture. 

Architect awards 

The architect awards recognise design excellence of smart sustainable marinas and yacht clubs worldwide. Created to further an appreciation for and exposure to environmental development, the competition also enhances customer experience through design in the marine industry. 

Cor Bosman, architectural student award winner.

It was presented to a professional winner, a public choice winner and a student. Speaking on her winning entry, Cor said: “I was thrilled to receive the Architecture Student Award for my project entry titled ‘SeaforeStation – Calanque de Sormiou’.” 

When asked what prompted her to enter the competition, Cor replied: “Being passionate about both conceptual and regenerative design, I was elated to find that this year’s Monaco Smart and Sustainable Marina competition intersected with both of these passions. 

“Monaco Marina Management (M3) has a noteworthy commitment to sustainability (besides being professional and amicable). I knew that my training at the University of Pretoria equipped me to come up with solutions to challenges specified in the competition brief – a very challenging one. So I jumped right in and I’m glad I did,” she confirmed. 

International jury 

The competition panel was chaired by Effie Nakajima from Zaha Hadid Architects and supported by Jean Michel Wilmotte from Wilmotte & Associés. The panel also included: 

• Marina expert and designer, Oscar Siches.
• Janna Bystrykh, head of architecture at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture.
• Coastal engineer, Nicolas Jarry.
• Henry Glogau, architect and circular design specialist at 3XN/GXN.

The challenge 

The design proposal was for an innovative and sustainable floating marina. With a 400m² floor area limit, the marina had to be constructed mostly from lightweight, recycled material, be easily erectable/dismantlable, incorporate renewable energy systems and, above all, promote sustainable mooring in a marine habitat of high ecological sensitivity and value. 

Bosman’s Architecture Student Award for her project entry titled “SeaforeStation – Calanque de Sormiou.”

Situated in the spectacular Calanques de Sormiou near Marseille, the project site lies within precious Posidonia meadows. Posidonia, like most other seaweed, sequesters vast amounts of carbon – 20 times more than rainforests – and in return delivers 4-20 l/m² oxygen per day. 

They also contain highly vulnerable and diverse marine species and act as a protective nursing space for young marine fauna. Yet, these meadows, due to climate change and unsustainable mooring practices, are vanishing at a rate of 10% per decade. This is alarming. 

Catastrophic opportunities 

“Monaco Marina Management (M3) deserves credit for its relentless pursuit of sustainability in the marine and boating industries,” says Cor. Just as in any other industry, the marine industry has the potential to become a trailblazer in sustainable and regenerative practices and even inspire other industries to follow suit. 

Due to its popularity, visual appeal and economic success, it can be a valuable trendsetter. Unfortunately, the marine industry also has the potential to become a mass, in the scale of megatons, contributor to global composite waste and other unsustainable malpractices. 

As per the European Boating Industry, between 30 800 – 231 000 tons of composite waste from discarded and abandoned recreational boats are expected annually from 2030 onwards, in Europe alone. To place this in perspective, it amounts to the weight of 3-23 Eiffel Towers per year in recreational marine waste only. 

However, in great calamity lies incredible potential. Cor explains: “Find the calamity and you will find the potential.” In the case of the Calanques, the solution came in the form of catamarans. 

With a childhood fascination for these slick, clever, stable and simply lovely vessels, there was a natural bond. “I felt that it would be a pity to see these marvellous objects of engineering and marine architecture shredded,” she states. 

The design proposal 

The design proposal is therefore a collective of retrofitted catamarans and solar-powered Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) that self-assemble seasonally and connect to a permanent mooring platform. This platform also acts as a Posidonia nursery, while containing renewable energy creation potential that generates energy from ocean currents. 

The platform has rotating capabilities that allow for photosynthesis of the Posidonia meadows below. Furthermore, solar panel surface areas are sufficient to provide desalinated and potable water as per the station’s requirements. 

Integrated within the project is a proposal for a self-funded Posidonia research and reforestation centre. Through various commercial proposals, the centre can sustain itself and also increases the understanding and appreciation of Posidonia Oceanica through research. 

The station will contribute to reforestation and afforestation of seabeds along the Mediterranean coast, where Posidonia thrives. The proposal encourages recycling its own waste into products that either generate income for the project or support the project functionality directly – for example, by generating biogas to be used for cooking and any research requirements. 

Integrated within the project is a proposal for a self-funded Posidonia research and reforestation centre.

Responsive elements 

Catamarans 

The catamarans are retrofitted to satisfy a layered programme. Firstly, to complement the brief’s requirements, and secondly, to support a variety of amenities that will generate an income for the project. These include overnight stay facilities, recreational equipment rentals, retail space etc. and also a tribute to Jacques-Yves Cousteau. 

Cousteau frequented these calanques or coves during his endeavour to create diving apparatus that would unlock underwater exploration and provide diving access to the common person. 

Seasonal use 

Also in response to the brief, the SeaforeStation was designed from the onset to be easily dismantled and relocated. The floating marina will be used in-season, when the Mediterranean Sea experiences favourable weather. 

Off-season relocation could place the SeaforeStation in harbours, where, for example, they could aid with awareness programmes, or be relocated to areas with calmer weather to continue with their intended purposes. 

Circularity 

Circularity requires that all waste should be accounted for, pre-determined and pre-planned. For starters, a complete ban on single-use plastics solves a variety of problems. 

The management of waste produced by the project can be turned into a host of products that are sold from on-board and land-based retail space to further support the project, by for example: 

• turning food-grade paper and wood waste into paper-based products.
• urine is turned into urea, an effective fertiliser.
• cooking fats and oils are turned into candles, soaps etc.

Generative design 

With the adverse effects of climate change felt globally, there is a need to learn to live with nature and within natural ecological systems. 

An aerial view of Bosman’s innovative seasonal marina of retrofitted catamarans and solar-powered unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), moored to a permanent mooring platform.

“Regenerative living requires that we leave the environment better than it was before. This can only effectively be done through a collective effort, starting with each of us individually,” Cor concludes. 

“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” – Robert Swan 

A local student architect has won an international award in Monaco, which supports an approach to yachting that fully respects the environment, both at sea and ashore.
 

With thanks and acknowledgement to Cor Bosman and the Monaco Marina Management (M3) for the information in this article. For more information, visit www.madebycor.com.