Floating House, a Flood Plain Response

With the lack of sites available these days , responses to flood prone areas will increase if only the methodologies can satisfy the increasingly stringent tests place upon applicants. This scheme was a response to just such a difficult situation.

The look of the building is suitably nautical with special drop down decks that close with water tight seals to the lower levels.

The site plot is tight, sub-divided by the village boundary so the building footprint is irregular. This has not hampered the design functionally as the architect has turned it to advantage in resolving the spatial layout. An existing tree to remain at the front and a set back at the boundary with the neighbour leaves the only usable space needed in entirety.

So it was very much a matter of working in tight constraints. That said the arrangement makes good use of light from South East to West, with those glazed elevations shown above in the coloured elevations.

The land to South West conveniently allows the access parking and garden amenity, while it can be argued that the building is wholly within the village boundary. Except for moving parts that extend the drop down decks. These expand the floorspace into the greenspace and become part of the kinetic aspect of the 'machine for living' in, marine vessels often have moving parts.

The ground Plan left, has front entry in the glazed screen facing the road South East. This connects with a path hugging the boundary with the neighbour East and set back from the road with an existing mature tree gives privacy. Once inside the whole ground floor is seen to be a open plan with a stair giving a light divide and the far back a private cloakroom/utility with toilet, storage and airing cupboard. The kitchen is on the East and units run along the back return to North side with built in sections for audio visual equipment, etc. giving 3 areas for dining adjacent to kitchen, sitting adjacent to the deck and large glazing South West, and a chill area/study to the front zone.

First Floor has a stair rising to small landing with four doors to three bedrooms and separate bathroom. The two back bedrooms have access out to a private deck behind, that has a ladder up to the flat roof where PV solar panels provide all the electricity needs. The Master Bedroom has a balcony and rising screen sun shade to South West.

Structural lines are shown in the plans, where one post is applied at ground floor. The walls are timber stud, highly insulated for energy efficiency.

The elevations indicate the nautical look and clarify the moving parts. The section shows the spatial aspects and angled PV panels to roof behind a parapet screen.

This is a compact residential villa bursting with marine character in a restrained and ordered way. It has been considered for both a floating and static format in response to it's position on the outer edges of any notional flood map. It can have a concrete barge or a steel format, equally a static lifted plinth and waterproof to a further metre higher from finished floor level...all depending on final chosen detail. The floating form would be restrained by two 'dolphins', steel posts about which the house slides in the vertical. The floating version likely more expensive.

It adopts a characterful nature with appropriate gizmos and could be a lovely environment for a small family. Efficient clean lines and good function spaces would appeal to many.

Natalia Roosvelt