Koen Olthuis
AGE: 35
OCCUPATION: Architect
NUMBER OF TIME COVERS: 0
PREVIOUS APPEARANCES ON THE TIME 100: 0
PRO: Founder of a Dutch architectural firm that specializes in floating structures to counter concerns of floods, which are both a local concern (one-third of the Netherlands is reclaimed land) and a global one due to the possible effects of climate change.
CON: The concept is yet to be feasible on a large scale; such buildings are much more expensive to produce and their foundations last only 100 years. Olthius' firm, Waterstudio, currently lacks the necessary public and governmental support to execute citywide renovations.