Flooding is a natural function of rivers. Sea levels are predicted to rise. There are two types of floating homes, permanently floating homes and homes that float only when flood waters swell, but sit on the ground during the dry season. Requiring the later on new construction within floodplains, and considering same for threatened shorelines, is one way to plan for the future.
Instructions
- Building a floating home
Connect the four "pontoon" style boats together,
two abreast and two long to form a rectangle. Remove the engines and steering
hardware from the front two boats before placement. Weld the connecting
platforms, then weld in support braces from measured lengths of steel frame
bars across the pontoon frames. Do not weld the pontoons themselves because
they are sealed and should not be ruptured. Be sure the boats sit within one
inch of each other at the platforms and are level once connected.
2. Link the steering hardware from the rear two boats to a
single location. Both engines can be left in place (normally outboard type
motors are on pontoon boats), or one can be centered in the rear of the connected
boats. The steering hardware will be easier to modify with one engine, but
might lack enough power to maintain speed.
3. Remove the boats' roof and supports from the decks. With the
four pontoon platforms united, there is a large mobile surface area that serves
as a foundation for a home. With the roofs removed, the rail around the edge of
the platforms can be cut and welded to conform to a single outside edge.
4. Remove the front two boats' gasoline tanks and lines,
leaving the rear two tanks in place. The rear tanks can be linked with a
switching valve.
5. Build the exterior of the home onto the platforms. If the entire surface is not going to be used for the house, be sure to center the home so the weight will be distributed evenly. A simple, lightweight house will perform better in all areas, and the electrical conduit pipe can be welded up from the unused roof mounts in a variety of shapes.
5. Build the exterior of the home onto the platforms. If the entire surface is not going to be used for the house, be sure to center the home so the weight will be distributed evenly. A simple, lightweight house will perform better in all areas, and the electrical conduit pipe can be welded up from the unused roof mounts in a variety of shapes.
Geodesic domes or square
framed homes can be welded together and then covered with a marine quality
fiberglass. Windows can be salvaged from marine vehicles as can kitchen and
toilet appliances.
6. Wire the electrical interior of the house. Ideally, an
economical form of electrical generation, such as solar or wind driven
generators, should be installed.
7. Install the desired walls and appliances. Several small
rooms or two large rooms can be created from the area provided by the large
platforms.
The FLOAT House optimizes the efficiency of mass-production, while respecting
New Orleans’s unique culture and context. The Ninth Ward’s colorful vernacular
houses, which local residents have traditionally modified and personalized over
time, reflect the community’s vibrant culture.
• The modular chassis is pre-fabricated as a single unit of expanded polystyrene foam coated in glass fiber reinforced concrete, with all required wall anchors, electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems pre-installed. The chassis module is shipped whole from factory to site, via standard flat bed trailer.
• The piers that anchor the house to the ground and the concrete pads on which the chassis sits are constructed on-site, using local labor and conventional construction techniques.
• The panelized walls, windows, interior finishes and kit-of parts roof are prefabricated, to be assembled on-site along with the installation of fixtures and appliances. This efficient approach integrates modern mass-production with traditional site construction to lower costs, guarantee quality, and reduce waste.
Make It: Float
A flood-safe house that securely floats with rising water levels
Global climate change is triggering ever-harsher floods and natural disasters. Nearly 200 million people worldwide live in high risk coastal flooding zones , and in the US alone, over 36 million people currently face the threat of flooding. The FLOAT House prototype proposes a sustainable way of living that adapts to this uncertain reality.
To protect from flooding, the FLOAT House can rise vertically on guide posts, securely floating up to twelve feet as water levels rise. In the event of a flood, the house’s chassis acts as a raft, guided by steel masts, which are anchored to the ground by two concrete pile caps each with six 45-foot deep piles.
Like the vernacular New Orleans shotgun house, the FLOAT House sits on a 4-foot base; rather than permanently raising the house on ten foot or higher stilts, the house only rises in case of severe flooding. This configuration accommodates a traditional front porch, preserving of the community’s vital porch culture and facilitating accessibility for elderly and disabled residents.
While not designed for occupants to remain in the home during a hurricane, the FLOAT House aims to minimize catastrophic damage and preserve the homeowner’s investment in their property. This approach also allows for the early return of occupants in the aftermath of a hurricane or flood.
Make It: Green
A high-performance house that generates and sustains its own water and power needs
On track for a LEED Platinum Rating, the FLOAT House is an innovative model for affordable, net-zero annual energy consumption housing. High-performance systems sustain the home’s power, air, and water needs, and minimize resource consumption:
• Solar Power Generation: The roof supports solar panels that generate all of the house’s power, resulting in net-zero annual energy consumption. The chassis incorporates electrical systems to store and convert solar power for daily use, and to give back to the electrical grid during the temperate fall and spring months.
• Rainwater Collection: The sloped concave roof collects rainwater, and funnels it to cisterns housed in the chassis, where it is filtered and stored for daily use.
• Efficient Systems—including low-flow plumbing fixtures, low-energy appliances, high performance windows, and highly insulated SIPs (Structural Insulated Panel) walls and roof—minimize water and power consumption, and lower the lifecycle cost for the home owner.
• High-grade energy efficient kitchen, appliances and fixtures maximize durability and reduce the need for replacement.
• Geothermal Heating and Cooling: A geothermal mechanical system heats and cools the air via a ground source heat pump, which naturally conditions the air, minimizing the energy required to cool the house in the harsh summer months and heat it in winter.
The FLOAT House grows out of the
indigenous typology of the shotgun house, predominant throughout New Orleans
and the Lower Ninth Ward. Like a typical shotgun house, the FLOAT House sits
atop a raised base.
This innovative base, or “chassis,” integrates all
mechanical, electrical, plumbing and sustainable systems, and securely floats
in case of flooding. Inspired by GM’s skateboard chassis, which is engineered
to support several car body types, the FLOAT House’s chassis is designed to
support a variety of customizable house configurations.
Developed to meet the needs of families in New Orleans’s Lower Ninth Ward, the FLOAT House is a prototype for prefabricated, affordable housing that can be adapted to the needs of flood zones worldwide. The FLOAT House is assembled on-site from pre-fabricated components:
Developed to meet the needs of families in New Orleans’s Lower Ninth Ward, the FLOAT House is a prototype for prefabricated, affordable housing that can be adapted to the needs of flood zones worldwide. The FLOAT House is assembled on-site from pre-fabricated components:
• The modular chassis is pre-fabricated as a single unit of expanded polystyrene foam coated in glass fiber reinforced concrete, with all required wall anchors, electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems pre-installed. The chassis module is shipped whole from factory to site, via standard flat bed trailer.
• The piers that anchor the house to the ground and the concrete pads on which the chassis sits are constructed on-site, using local labor and conventional construction techniques.
• The panelized walls, windows, interior finishes and kit-of parts roof are prefabricated, to be assembled on-site along with the installation of fixtures and appliances. This efficient approach integrates modern mass-production with traditional site construction to lower costs, guarantee quality, and reduce waste.
Make It: Float
A flood-safe house that securely floats with rising water levels
Global climate change is triggering ever-harsher floods and natural disasters. Nearly 200 million people worldwide live in high risk coastal flooding zones , and in the US alone, over 36 million people currently face the threat of flooding. The FLOAT House prototype proposes a sustainable way of living that adapts to this uncertain reality.
To protect from flooding, the FLOAT House can rise vertically on guide posts, securely floating up to twelve feet as water levels rise. In the event of a flood, the house’s chassis acts as a raft, guided by steel masts, which are anchored to the ground by two concrete pile caps each with six 45-foot deep piles.
Like the vernacular New Orleans shotgun house, the FLOAT House sits on a 4-foot base; rather than permanently raising the house on ten foot or higher stilts, the house only rises in case of severe flooding. This configuration accommodates a traditional front porch, preserving of the community’s vital porch culture and facilitating accessibility for elderly and disabled residents.
While not designed for occupants to remain in the home during a hurricane, the FLOAT House aims to minimize catastrophic damage and preserve the homeowner’s investment in their property. This approach also allows for the early return of occupants in the aftermath of a hurricane or flood.
Make It: Green
A high-performance house that generates and sustains its own water and power needs
On track for a LEED Platinum Rating, the FLOAT House is an innovative model for affordable, net-zero annual energy consumption housing. High-performance systems sustain the home’s power, air, and water needs, and minimize resource consumption:
• Solar Power Generation: The roof supports solar panels that generate all of the house’s power, resulting in net-zero annual energy consumption. The chassis incorporates electrical systems to store and convert solar power for daily use, and to give back to the electrical grid during the temperate fall and spring months.
• Rainwater Collection: The sloped concave roof collects rainwater, and funnels it to cisterns housed in the chassis, where it is filtered and stored for daily use.
• Efficient Systems—including low-flow plumbing fixtures, low-energy appliances, high performance windows, and highly insulated SIPs (Structural Insulated Panel) walls and roof—minimize water and power consumption, and lower the lifecycle cost for the home owner.
• High-grade energy efficient kitchen, appliances and fixtures maximize durability and reduce the need for replacement.
• Geothermal Heating and Cooling: A geothermal mechanical system heats and cools the air via a ground source heat pump, which naturally conditions the air, minimizing the energy required to cool the house in the harsh summer months and heat it in winter.