Danube - Floating Island

The developed floating island is an innovative concrete construction method, which has been carried out for the first time. Combination of reliable methods and new developments made the realisation possible. The floating island is an impressive demonstration of the potential of thin carbon fibre reinforced concrete layers and allows in combination with the foam core, a great variety of shapes. The costs are clear, it is light and a high resistance to mechanical influences is given.

The dimensions of the manufactured island are deemed to show the limits in the economic sense and a sense of practical efficiency. Larger areas are possible by docking of several islands together.
The developed method of building can also be interesting for higher loaded supporting structures. Further development in this direction could be the use of ultra-high performance concrete in even thinner layers and short fibre reinforcement.

Through periodical examination the prototype is supposed to supply new information about durability, crack security and usability of the building method, especially because the influences of climatic strains such as sun radiation, water cooling, frost and ice (occurring also in combination) could not be clearly predicted. The absorption of water and the saturation moistness are further aspects which can only be reliably measured over time.

After two years of comprehensive pre-studies, patience and engagement of the clients, planners and contractors, the floating island was launched into the water of the ‘Neue Donau’ in Vienna in December 2013. The main goal and examination, however, is for the joyful use of the bathers in summer.