Eco-Friendly Building Options for Flood Resistant Residential Homes

Recent flooding in the spring of 2015 in Texas demonstrated an important aspect of preparation, architectural design and urban planning.  During the month of May 2015, the State of Texas received more than twenty-five straight days of rain, averaging 3-5 inches per day in most communities.  

Despite an existing infrastructure of dams and spillways designed to cope with water overflow, many communities and homes were ravaged by the flood waters, which created according to some estimates, more than $45 million dollars of damage in four week period.  Forty-four people in Oklahoma and Texas died as a result of the flooding and extreme weather.

With the impact of the 2015 El Nino on weather patterns and a recent report by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that the abnormal weather patterns may persist through the winter of 2015 and 2016, communities in areas that can be impacted by flooding are on alert. However the half measures in response to a safety threat will not be nearly as impactful as evaluating areas at risk, and adopting more ecologically aware urban planning and building practices.

How Does It Happen? Meet the Communities Built on Flood Plains

As urban sprawl continues to put pressure on the demand for land and building space, some of the most rapidly growing communities around the world have discarded concerns over potential flood plains and converted wetlands and level to or below sea level land into residential communities.  In some areas where the weather is typically hot and arid, the idea of a flood may seem exaggerated until weather patterns contribute to excessive water and flooding.  At which time the problem becomes clear often with devastating results.

The American state of Louisiana has lost approximately 1,900 square miles of land since the early 1930's.  Water control efforts and infrastructure and a system of levies built to control and divert parts of the Mississippi River to protect communities have deprived the surrounding wetlands from sediment deposits from the river, and the Louisiana delta continues to sink at an astonishing rate, placing wildlife, communities and even businesses at risk from submergence.

As weather patterns continue to be unpredictable and with speculation about the impact of sea levels due to warming temperatures and the gradual melting of the polar ice cap, builders are seeking out innovative new techniques for building homes that can literally rise and fall with water levels.

Amphibious Home Architecture

Water management in the Netherlands is an exacting science.  The Dutch have experienced frequent flooding throughout history and the system of dikes and canals have been strategically located and managed in response to increased water levels.  While the Dutch have always been in a constant battle to control nature, it seems the country has changed its strategy to work with nature, rather than against it.  They are starting to allow the water in.

The problem with the plan in the Netherlands is that the flooded lands belong to farmers which must be relocated.  The government has made a routine practice of ordering residents off land that is deemed to be at risk for flooding and has provided citizens with alternative parcels is less flood prone areas.  However the country is fighting a losing battle between the tides, and its scientists are predicting that water levels will continue to rise more than 70 cm every five years.  Since traditional housing is destroyed by flooding water, alternative home constructions ideas have been innovated and are being tested.

Near the Maas River is a settlement community of 37 homes that cost less than 5% to construct than the average standard residence.  Designed and built by Factor Architecten the community is connected by a picturesque boardwalk instead of a sidewalk. The entire community is built on a floating barge like foundation that rises and falls as required, depending on the flood levels of the Maas River.

The floating homes are attached to flexible mooring posts and are mounted into concrete foundations.  When the river level increases, the homes move upwards and float, while the fastenings and moorings prevent the house from rocking or listing when water levels are high.  When the water levels recede, the homes slowly lower back to rest on the concrete foundations.

Each concrete barge weights 72 tonnes and the timber frame weights approximately 22 tonnes with a low center of gravity for motion control and stability. The concrete is treated with a water proof aggregate to prevent damage and the moveable joints (responsible for raising and lowering the home) is also treated and sealed with water resistant materials.   The hollow interior of the barge can be used as additional storage and are large square spaces approximately two meters in height.

Practical Applications for Amphibious Housing Worldwide

As our natural environment continues to evolve, so does the understanding that planning communities in areas that are prone to flash flooding is an unnecessary risk.  Homes that are designed with an amphibious structure would be safer, more affordable and would represent some cost savings for both private owners as well as government agencies, minimizing and even potentially eliminating residential damage during floods.

Combined with solar and wind generated power, homes can be built to work together with the environment rather than in opposition to the natural cycles of flooding.  In the future we may see more amphibious home designs in flood plain areas and in sensitive environmental areas, allowing residents to cohabitate with nature in a desirable waterfront lifestyle, without altering or damaging the watershed. In fact, similar communities would allow for the natural functioning of wetlands to irrigate, fertilize and filter fresh water more effectively.

Amphibious homes are already in use in the Netherlands and in Thailand, and in the UK the "Exbury Egg" offers a sustainable floating office and alternative to regular work spaces.  As we rethink our efforts to control the environment, architects are rethinking Berwyn flood control systems in general, and opting for more natural alternatives that are less about control and more about living in harmony with our natural environment.

(Image Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brentanofabrics/8024372809/in/photostream/)