CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
1.1. GENERAL

Human rely on heavy engineering , tidal barriers and riverside and

coastal defenses to protect our built environment from flooding . The desire to live
adjacent to water reflects our cultural heritage and historic settlement patterns, and
we continue to build on flood plains and other flooding-prone areas. However, coastal
defenses, such as the river barriers have proven ineffective when it comes to a
drastic rise in sea level. Residents, businesses and entire industries that currently
thrive on the shoreline will be at risk of flooding by the middle of the century if
nothing is done to protect, elevate or relocate them. In order to defend our
communities against rising sea levels and flooding, long-term approaches to building
design must be considered that will provide alternative dwelling opportunities for
coastal residents.
As much as 90% of the 100 largest cities in the world are located on
water. Furthermore, these cities have a substantial amount of water in the city itself,
in the form of lakes, rivers, canals, harbors, bays or open oceans. The high
complexity of the modern city requires a high level of flexibility so that changing
special requirements can find a place within the existing structures. Flexibility can
include fitting in a considerable amount of open space, or space that has low
economic value, such as building on water.
The most flood threatened cities in world are
1. Guangzhou , China
2. Mumbai , India
3. Kolkata , India
4. Guayaquil , Ecuador
5. Shenzhen , China

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 6. Miami
7. Tianjin , China
8. New York
9. Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam
10. New Orleans

These places are vulnerable to a range of natural hazards, including

storms, extreme high tides, and rising sea levels resulting from global climate change.
Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, are causing an overall
warming of the planet, commonly referred to as global warming. The research
conducted by the IPCC found that the average temperature of the globe increased by
1.5°F in the past 100 years. This change in the natural world has been linked to a
number of environmental impacts, including a decrease in snow-cover, arctic ice
thinning by 40%, and global sea level rise of 4-8 inches during the last century.
Leading scientists around the world agree that climate change is a reality and that
human activities are intensifying the greenhouse effect.
The various solution for these calamities are floating reeds, elevating
houses on piles , retrofitting boats to become residence and amphibious architecture.
Among these amphibious architecture is the most effective method as solution for the
effect of flooding.

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 CHAPTER 2
WATER DWELLING TYPOLOGIES

2.1 GENERAL
Water dwellings can be categorized by their foundations and their
relationship to the water. These dwellings include terp dwellings, static elevation, pile
dwellings, amphibious dwellings and floating dwellings. Some types have been used
for centuries while others are relatively new, such as the amphibious house, however
each type has proven resilience in the event of rising water levels.

2.2 TERP DWELLINGS

A terp is an artificial earthwork mound created to provide safe ground
in the event of a rise in water levels . The terp dwelling is connected to the land
and remains dry until a maximum water level has been reached. Although it
intuitively feels safer and more secure than a floating dwelling, it is in fact less safe
because there are no means of escape during extreme and unexpected high water
levels. Figure 2.1 shows the terp dwelling .

Fig. 2.1 Terp dwelling

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2.3 STATIC ELEVATION

One of the most common retrofitting methods is elevating a house to a

required or desired Base Flood Elevation (BFE). When a house is properly elevated,
the living area will be above all but the most severe floods. Figure 2.2 shows the
static elevation .
In general, they involve
(1) lifting the house and building a new, or extending the existing, foundation below
it or
(2) leaving the house in place and either building an elevated floor within the house

Fig. 2.2 Static elevation

2.4 PILE DWELLINGS

Pile dwellings are a type of housing built on top of concrete, steel or

wooden poles and can be found in shallow water, coastal areas, or lakes where
fluctuations in the water level can be predicted. This type of dwelling typically rests

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8-15 feet off the ground and has been used throughout the world as means of
protection from water.
Type of piles that can be used are timber , concrete and steel .
Timber is often used in pile foundations because it is a readily available and
renewable resource . Because it is light in weight, timber is also more easily handled,
driven and cut than other types of piles. Concrete piles can be pre-cast or cast-in-
place, and they can be reinforced, prestressed or plain. They do not corrode like steel
piles or decay like wood piles; also, concrete is more readily available than steel.
Pre-cast concrete piles are shaped and molded according to shape, length and size
prior to being driven into the ground, while cast-in-place piles are poured into holes
in the ground where a rod has been previously driven and removed. Steel pilings can
be formed into many different shapes but the most common steel pile types have
rolled circular, X-shaped or H-shaped cross sections. Figure 2.3 shows the timber pile
residence .

Fig. 2.3 Timber Pile Residence

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2.5 HOUSE BOATS

Houseboats began with the conversion of ships and fishing vessels into
livable environments . These types of houses resemble a land based property in its
design and construction yet are buoyant enough to withstand the forces of water .
Figure 2.4 shows the house boat residence .

Fig. 2.4 House Boat Residence

2.6 AMPHIBIOUS DWELLINGS

Amphibious housing is a dwelling type that sits on land but is capable

of floating. During a sudden rise in water, a house will be lifted by the water,
provided either by pontoons or a hollow basement, in order to ensure it remains dry,
and will then return to the ground as the water recedes. By sliding along two vertical
mooring poles that are driven deep into the ground, the houses are capable of rising
vertically while restricting horizontal movements on the water. Figure 2.5 shows the
amphibious house .

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 Fig. 2.5 Amphibious house

2.7 SUMMARY

It discuss with different types of water dwellings like terp , pile ,

amphibious dwellings, static elevation and House boats etc . Each one how works ,
what is its different from others . Among the different water dwellings amphibious
architecture is the most applicable method . Water dwellings are mainly used to
protect buildings from flooding .

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 CHAPTER 3

AMPHIBIOUS ARCHITECTURE
3.1 GENERAL
Amphibious architecture is a cost-effective, resident-friendly alternative
to permanent static elevation for housing in areas where rising flood waters are not
accompanied by high flow speeds. There is growing awareness that homeowners in
established neighborhoods are resistant to permanent static elevation, a strategy that
disrupts a neighborhood’s appearance and causes daily inconvenience, with no
assurance of providing sufficient protection in an extreme flood event.
Amphibious house , Lift house and Float house are the examples of
how amphibious architecture can effectively be incorporated into a new build .
Figure 3.1 and 3.2 shows amphibious house in dry and rainy season respectively .

Fig. 3.1 Amphibious house in dry season Fig 3.2 Amphibious house in rainy season

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3.2 BUOYANT FOUNDATION

Amphibious foundation systems retain a home’s close proximity to the

earth and relationship to the street by supporting the house at a slightly raised
elevation under normal circumstances. When flooding occurs, the house floats to as
high a level as is necessary to remain safely above water, then settles back into
place as the water recedes. Amphibious construction brings together standard
components from the construction and marine industries to create an intelligent
solution to flooding. The house itself sits in the ground and the floating base is
almost invisible from the outside. Amphibious designs can vary to suit the location
and owners’ preferences.

A buoyant foundation is a particular type of amphibious foundation that

is specifically designed to be retrofitted to an existing house that is already slightly
elevated off the ground and supported on short piers. The system consists of three
basic elements: buoyancy blocks underneath the house that provide flotation, vertical
guideposts that prevent the house from going anywhere except straight up and down,
and a structural sub-frame that ties everything together. Utility lines have either self-
sealing ‘breakaway’ connections or long, coiled ‘umbilical’ lines. Any house that can
be elevated can be made amphibious.

These are also known as fully compensated foundations as during their

construction the soil underneath the foundation is removed , whose weight is equal to
the weight of the whole superstructure. Hence the weight removed from the soil is
compensated by the weight of the building . Buoyancy foundation are adopted under
the following cases

1. The soil bearing capacity is very slow

2. The estimated building settlement is more than the safe limit

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3.3 NEED FOR BUOYANCY FOUNDATION FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

Those areas with soft soil , layer in huge depth is observed , it is

economical to go for floating foundation . Occupants in low-altitude areas face
the problem of high floods resulting in the collapse of the houses.
This arrangement is a flexible method , as the building would remain on
the ground under normal conditions . When flood approaches ,the building would rise
to a desired height ,as shown in the figure 3.3 .

Fig . 3.3 Normal condition Flood condition

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3.4 ADVANTAGES OF AMPHIBIOUS ARCHITECTURE

1) House remains close to the ground

2) Less susceptible to wind damage
3) Elevates house to exactly what is required to stay above water , even if above
BFE
4) Alleviates problem of soil subsidence
5) Cost effective
6) Can rise up to any height to keep the house above flood

3.5 COMPARISON

Figure 3.4 describes when flooding with low intensity occurs house 1
get submerged as it is built up on a normal foundation , house 2 is not submerged
as it is built approx. 3-5 feet above the ground level , house 3 is not submerged as it
is built on buoyant foundation .

Fig 3.4 When flooding with low intensity occurs

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 Figure 3.5 describes when flooding with high intensity occurs house
1 get submerged as it is built on a normal foundation , house 2 is also submerged as
the flooding increases height , house 3 is not submerged as it is built on buoyant
foundation that elevates 15 – 18 feet .

Fig 3.5 when flooding occurs with high intensity

3.6 PRESERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY CONSIDERATIONS

Buoyant foundations preserve traditional shotgun houses. They

are considerably less expensive than permanent static elevation . They alleviate any
long-term deterioration of protection resulting from soil subsidence and elevated sea
level from global warming, something that permanent static elevation cannot avoid.
The house is not permanently elevated and it is therefore less vulnerable to hurricane
wind damage. A house when retrofitted with a buoyant foundation looks essentially the
same as it did before, unlike a house with permanent static elevation. The original
traditional architecture and the relationship of the house to the street are preserved.

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 The use of buoyant foundations is an approach to flood mitigation
that disperses risk rather than concentrating it. They are a low impact solution that
improves community resilience. They promote restoration rather than demolition, which is
a much more sustainable response to local housing needs. They preserve a form of
traditional vernacular housing that is particularly appropriate for the local climate and
made of a particularly appropriate local material that is no longer available and
thus irreplaceable.

3.7 FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Currently exploring the use of Thermoplastic Timber, a new

structural material made of recycled plastic bottles, reinforced with fiberglass from
recycled automobile bumpers, to replace the steel in the structural subframe and
telescoping vertical guidance poles. We are also exploring the use of containers filled
with recapped recycled plastic water bottles to replace the styrofoam in the buoyancy
blocks.

3.8 SUMMARY

These chapter mainly deals with amphibious architecture , buoyant

foundation , its advantage , comparison of normal foundation and buoyant foundation ,
and finally sustainability and future direction . Main principle of amphibious
architecture is based on buoyant foundation . It is less expensive and preserve
traditional manner . Instead of steel waste materials can be used .

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 CHAPTER 4

CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF BUOYANT FOUNDATION

4.1 GENERAL

The construction and retrofit process of the structure is relatively

simple and it basically works like a floating dock. A steel frame that holds
the floatation blocks is attached to the underside of the structure . There are
four vertical guidance poles not far from the corners of the structure . The top of
the poles are attached to the steel frame . The poles telescope out of the
ground , allowing the structure to move up and down .

Fig . 4.1 Schematic diagram of Amphibious house

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4.2 DETAILS

When flooding occurs , the floatation blocks lift the structure , with
the steel frame transferring the forces between the structure and the blocks .
The vertical guidance poles keep the structure from going anywhere except straight
up and down on top of water . The various floating materials that can be used
are EPS Block, N55, recycled empty water bottles , concrete with rebar,
thermoplastic timber and HDPE . EPS means Expanded Polystyrene Foam . And
HDPE means High Density Polymer Elastics . Figure 4.1 shows schematic diagram
of amphibious house .

The process begins by drilling into the ground and inserting the
vertical guidance sleeves in the appropriate locations. Next a steel frame is
constructed by securing C-channels to the wood sill beams of the structure and then
positioning and securing extended T-beams to the C-channels. The structure is then
slowing jacked up to five-feet in small increments where the plumbing and utility lines
are modified. The plumbing and utility lines have either self-sealing ‘breakaway’
connections that disconnect gas and sewer lines when the structure begins to rise or
long, coiled ‘umbilical’ lines that can stretch as the structure rises.

The rest of the T-beams and C-channels are connected to form the
structural sub-frame as well as the addition of diagonal L-beams. EPS blocks are
then inserted into the sub-frame and the frame is then connected to the structure.
The structure is then lowered in small increments where it rests 3-4 feet off the ground.
The vertical guidance poles are inserted into the sleeves and connected to the extended
T-beams in the sub-frame. Most of the construction materials are small and light enough
to be installed by two persons without machinery. After the buoyant foundation is in
place, the structure remains supported on its original piers except when flooding
occurs . Figure 4.2 , 4.3 and 4.4 shows buoyant foundation material , steel sub frame
and steps in construction respectively .

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Fig .4.2 Buoyant foundation material

Fig 4.3 Steel sub frame

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 Fig :4.4 Steps in construction

4.3 SUMMARY
This chapter discuss with working of amphibious architecture . Structure
mainly consist of floating dock , steel frame , 4 vertical guidance at each corner of
the building . Thus the entire structure acts like a floating dock .When flooding occur
the structure rises along with water .

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 CHAPTER 5
EXAMPLES OF AMPHIBIOUS ARCHITECTURE

5.1 GENERAL
There are lots of flood prone areas in the world . Where the houses ,
buildings and other structures are widely being destroyed by the flood . So in order to
prevent the causes of flood so many places have adopted this technique .

5.2 LAKEVIEW AMPHIBIOUS HOUSE IN NEW ORLEANS

This house in the Lakeview neighborhood of New Orleans was built

by a contractor as a commercial spec house. It was completed more than a year
ago, but to date it has not been occupied. Due to difficulties with the
permitting process, the contractor has been unable to obtain a Certificate of
Occupancy. The house appears to be supported on a hollow steel box that provides
its buoyancy. The box rests on a concrete slab-on grade. Four wood vertical guidance
posts are set near the corners of the house. Each post is attached to the house by
two steel sleeves welded to the steel box. The sleeves are capable of sliding up and
down on the posts. Figure 5.1 and 5.2 shows Lakeview House, New Orleans elevation
and detail of connection to post.

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 Fig .5.1 Lakeview House, New Orleans Fig 5.2.Detail of connection to post
elevation

5.3 LIFT HOUSE IN DHAKA , BANGLADESH

This prototype of a low-cost, sustainable amphibious house for

urban slum-dwellers Broke ground in November in Dhaka , Bangladesh. Initiated
and designed by Prithula Prosun , currently a Master of Architecture student at
the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, each independent structure
consists of two to eight floatable bamboo dwellings clustered around a
shared courtyard. A stationary brick base supporting the dwellings contains
plumbing, utilities and rainwater storage cisterns. Each two-room amphibious
bamboo dwelling unit provides living and sleeping quarters for a single family .
Figure 5.3 shows lift house in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Concrete and brick base structure
under construction; buoyancy block made of recapped, recycled plastic bottles.

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Figure 5.3 : The LIFT House in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Concrete and brick base structure
under construction; buoyancy block made of recapped, recycled plastic bottles.

5.4 MAKE IT RIGHT FLOAT HOUSE IN NEW ORLEANS

Morphosis Architects designed the amphibious FLOAT House for MIR.

It was completed on October 2009. The base of the house is a "chassis" formed of
EPS encased in fiberglass-reinforced concrete. It acts as a raft, allowing the house to
rise vertically by sliding on two guide posts that pass through sleeves in the chassis,
one at each end, inside the house. The house can float up to twelve feet as water
levels rise. Figure 5.4 shows float house, New Orleans. Elevation, interior guide post and
sleeve details .

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Figure 5.4 : The FLOAT House, New Orleans. Elevation, interior guide post and sleeve
Detail

5.5 SUMMARY
This chapter includes various examples of amphibious architecture such as
amphibious house , lift house and float house . These helps the house to float over
the flood water .

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 CHAPTER 6
CONCLUSIONS

6.1 GENERAL

When looking at how we manage water and design in its close proximity,
the immense scale of the challenge of flooding that we are now facing becomes
clear. Climate change, and its many effects - including increasing sea levels, more
severe precipitation and increased flood risk – is already being felt, however its true
effects will be measured in decades. This is the timeframe within which planning, design
and development should operate.

6.2 MAIN POINTS

Amphibious buildings are a proven, low-cost, low-impact flood

protection strategy that gives a community enhanced flood resilience and improves its
ability to recover from disaster. When flooding occurs, the water dwelling vertically
rises with the water levels to remain safely above water then settles back into place as
the water recedes. Successful amphibious foundation systems are functioning in
the Netherlands, Louisiana and Sausalito, among others, where they provide flood
protection that is both more reliable and more convenient than can be obtained
from permanent static elevation.

The steel barge foundation will prove success in both durability and as
a floating foundation in salt water. Systems such as under floor heating and the
specific arrangement of windows will help facilitate the residents in times of
changing climates. By building the residence within the existing levee system, wave
action is minimized. The series of stability crests and berms are also capable of

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carrying municipal pipes and cables, thus ensuring the residents that an amphibious
house will have the same amenities as a house built on land. Comfort is guaranteed
because all buildings will have the same facilities as a building on land, including
heating, cooling and ventilation. Quality of the building is not compromised because
the official building requirements for floating buildings are the same as on land.

The increased attractiveness of living on the water after centuries of

dreading inundation indicates that the population feels that rising water levels are not to
be feared, but to be embraced. Open water adds variation to a landscape and invokes
feelings of tranquility and space, along with attractive views. Amphibious buildings
are similar to those on land. Although construction techniques vary, only the foundations
are essentially different from their equivalents on land. In terms of cost, buoyant
foundations are similar to filled-in land or foundation piles. Building on water is
financially feasible at locations where land is expensive and where there is little or
no alternative space on land.

6.3 SUMMARY

This chapter include main conclusions on the topic amphibious

architecture and also its applications .

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REFERENCE

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