Amphibious Housing

Systematic precautions, such as levees, dikes and water pumps are not enough in lowland territories with climates prone to flooding. In Developing Countries, the goal is to implement the best building practices to alleviate unnecessary hardship from Natural Disaster.

Flexible pvc pipe amphibious housing and stilt construction can protect from flooding. It can be used to rebuild responsibly after disaster to serve both the inhabitants and preserve natural resources.

Natural water cleansing, reuse and recycling systems incorporated into the roof, wall and drainage systems to cisterns can provide drinking water and water for local sustainable agriculture.

This housing is recommended for New Orleans, Mississippi, Nepal, Bangladesh and flood prone territories such as Phnom Penh.

Amphibious Housing Code:

1. Foundations: Transform into a float. House is to be built for land, in accompaniment with seafaring ability. Houses must have the ability to float up to 11 feet above ground.

Foundations should not be anchored to the earth and should be fastened to between 11 and 15-foot-long mooring posts with sliding rings.

2. Pilings: Hollow concrete-encased foam core, secured with steel cables against the pull of potential currents. Columns are to be driven deep into solid ground. Steel pilings are to be installed to resist horizontal, side-to-side movements.

3. Cellars: To be built on a platform, not below ground.

4. Walkways: Individual Pontoons are to have the ability to join to one another to form residential blocks for maritime settlement.

5. Electrical, Plumbing, Natural Gas, Drinking water and drainage: All to be housed in flexible PVC piping inside the mooring piles all to set sail with house.

6. Construction: Walls and floors of lightweight wooden panels and façade cladding in coated aluminum

7. Base: Hollow concrete cube

8. Allowable: Split-level accommodation, wooden balconies, and clapboard exteriors.

Floating House Code Variation

1. Platform: To be made of a natural equivalent to Styrofoam wrapped in a thin shell of concrete

Code Written @ Sarah Sapone 2008

Stilt Construction for Wet and Dry Seasons. Design Credit @ Sarah Sapone 2009

Nederlands. Photo Credit @ Sarah Sapone 2011

Sustainable Floating House @ Kraaijvanger_Vincent-van-der-Meulen