Floods cause great damage to people and their properties, forcing the residents to relocate to safer places, far from the coastline. One such area is Thamesmead, a town in England, which by being near to the North Sea is always at a risk of devastating floods. Constant threat of floods makes it almost impossible to construct sustainable residential areas. Owing to this, Rebecca Lee has proposed an ambitious housing concept – Amphibious Housing, for the people of Thamesmead.
Each of the property in the amphibious housing is designed in such a way that they can float up to a height of 4 meters. To hold these housings in position anchored masts have been used. During levels of high water in the city, a controlled system would allow the water to flow into the harbor area of the central pathway of the housing site. That’s not all, the housing would harness the tidal energy and allow the water to rise safely with a warning system to warn the residents of the rising water level. The warning system would help the residents to relocate their vehicles to a remote parking area.
Once the water level subsides, it can flow out of the site naturally by the network of canals and swales. The energy harnessed during the rising water level can also be used as additional energy supply to the housing or to remove the salt from water, so that it can be added to the main water supply. This can be extremely useful during flooding, when water and energy supply might get cut off.
The roadways to each street are constructed in such a manner that during times of controlled flood, the water would flow through them creating the required buoyancy so that the houses can float. And once the flood subsides, the water would safely be drained. When there are no floods, these roadways can also act as private courtyards or places for children to play and the residents to interact.
Rebecca Lee’s Amphibious Housing is surely a great solution for those who live in areas prone to frequent floods. This housing concept would help the residents to continue with their life without being interrupted by the seasonal floods.
Via: CargoCollective
