MAD Architects will ensure that the experience of visiting the new Yiwu Grand Theater in China’s Zhejiang province is unlike anything else in the world, with a highly unusual boat-inspired design. Set on the south bank of the Dongyang River, the structure seems to float on the surface of the water, its sloping glass curtain walls resembling massive translucent silk sails.

A tree-lined pedestrian footbridge offers access from the northern side, while a large plaza dips down to the water on the southern side. Trees dot the facility itself as well, as if nature has overtaken a long-anchored ship. The theater features a passive solar design, with the glass curtain walls acting as both a shading system and a means of optimizing natural light.

This design by MAD Architects bested proposals by Arata Isozaki, Christian de Portzamparc, GMP and others in a contest held by the city as it aims to brand itself as a new cultural hub for the region.

“Positioned with the mountains in the distance as its backdrop, and the water as its stage, MAD’s design responds to its locale, and appears as a boat, floating on the river,” say the architects. “It is defined by a layering of glass sails that are reminiscent of the Chinese junks that once transported goods across the waters, while their subtle curves echo the Jiangnan-style eaves of the ancient vernacular architecture that is typical of the region.”

“The transparency and lightness of the glass express the texture of thin, silky fabric, creating a dynamic rhythm that makes them appear as if they are blowing in the wind. They act as a protective canopy around the building, resonating with the river, elegantly floating above the water’s surface, setting a romantic atmosphere.”

Looking at these renderings, one question that comes to mind immediately is, what happens if the river rises? MAD doesn’t address the issue, but features that deal with the possibility may be built into the design. In any case, it’s a striking new landmark for Yiwu, and somewhat reminiscent of the Sydney Opera House.

The complex will include a 1600-seat grand theater, a 1,200-seat medium theater and an international conference center with a capacity of 2,000. Commissioned by the Administration Committee of Silk Road New District of Yiwu along with the Culture, Broadcasting & Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Yiwu, the new theater is set to begin construction in 2020.

Hiking means going up and down, but not just over long distances — each step raises and lowers your pack, which means you do more lifting, unless, that is, you have a “Lightening Pack” to help carry the load.

The HoverGlide‘s designers say their backpack can reduce the bodily impact of heavy loads by up to 86% thanks to a patented double-frame and pulley system. Basically, a set of bungee cords help keep the pack at one height off the ground, reducing that up-and-down action.

In turn, the pack takes strain and load off shoulders and joints, allowing a traveler to move faster and lighter. “For the same energetic cost,” Lawrence Rome of the University of Pennsylvania explains, “you can either carry 48 pounds in a normal backpack or 60 pounds in a suspended ergonomic backpack.” This gives you “12 extra pounds for free” while exerting the equal effort.”

Originally designed for (and tested by) various branches of the US military, it’s also made to be durable and water-resistant. Four versions are in the making currently: the Trekker, Commuter, Hiker and Tactical. All will employ the same basic technology, just at different scales for differing use cases.

A fresh new type of park-on-the-water in Rotterdam is turned plastic trash that once polluted the area into a series of hexagonal pods now open to the public. The design is built to scale, too — more units can be added as more waste is recovered.

The floating landscape is meant to raise awareness, but also provides a practical resting spot for people, as well as a refuge and breeding ground for snails, flatworms, beatles and fish — each pod has its on purpose, be it benches for humans or soil for plants and animals.

The artificial island chain was built by the Recycled Island Foundation, an organization that takes trash from the mouths of rivers using litter traps and reuses what they can. These traps are designed to catch and keep what passes by, even as the currents of the rivers change.

“When we retrieve the plastics directly in our cities and ports we actively prevent the further growth of the plastic soup in our seas and oceans. The realization of the building blocks in recycled plastics is an important step towards a litter free river.”

A massive floating plaza juts out of the harbor in Aarhus, Denmark, creating a protected area for bathers to swim and lounge in the sun. The Aarhus Harbor Bath by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) can accommodate up to 650 people at a time and features a diving pool, a shallow children’s pool, two saunas and a 164-foot lap pool. Open only during the summer, the platform is part of a larger effort to revitalize the city’s harbor coastline.

Opening with a splash, literally ? This weekend, we celebrated the official opening of Aarhus Harbor Bath! https://t.co/SMHyZmjthR pic.twitter.com/nCcM3DBt9E

— BIG (@BIG_Architects) July 2, 2018

“This weekend, we celebrated the official opening of Aarhus Harbor Bath with BIG Partner Finn Nørkjær, Mayor of Aarhus Municipality Jacob Bundsgaard, Vice Chairman of Salling Fondene Karin Salling and Councilor of Aarhus Municipality Rabih Azad-Ahmad!” says BIG. “Springboard divers from AGF Udspring took the first plunge off the promenade that rises from the quayside and continues out over the water.”

The bath is five years in the making, offering a “unique oasis” in what used to be an industrial area in Denmark’s second-largest city. BIG is working with Copenhagen-based urban planning group Gehl on a larger framework for the harbor, which will eventually include a beach zone, volleyball courts, cafes and restaurants, a theater, a hotel, shops and supermarkets.

BIG previously completed the Copenhagen Harbor Bath in 2009, a significantly smaller floating platform extending an adjacent park over the water with pools and an urban landscape of cliffs, playgrounds, piers, dry docks and boat ramps.

“The world is your waterbed” according to SmithFly, the creators of the floating Shoal Tent, an inflatable sleeping craft that lets you drift off while drifting out on the water.

The base is inflatable as is the tent structure, obviating the need for poles. Waterproof and wind resistant, it features a thick drop-stitched floor that serves as a robust but comfortable air mattress.

The tent is about eight by eight feet along the outside, and a person within can stand up without hitting the top.The top attaches easily but also detaches quickly in case of emergency. Each unit comes with a storage bag, foot pump and patch kit in case those shoals turn out to be rocky.

Of course, you have to be a bit adventurous to try this out on the open water, but SmithFly suggests sticking to “your favorite farm pond, salt water flat, spring creek, or eddie on your favorite river.” They are scheduled to cost around $1500 and are available for pre-sale.

More from its maker: “SmithFly designs and builds modular gear for sportsmen who want to be able to change and reconfigure their gear to suit various conditions and situations. Our goal is to build as much as possible in the USA.Our unique small batch mentality allows us great flexibility to test and maintain the highest standards of quality possible..”