env issues: Amphibious houses!!

Due to the incoming storm and dreary weather, I stayed home and watched an interesting program on the History Channel about the Katrina disaster and impending failure of the California levee system in the Sacramento area (Figure 1). Among the levee and dike innovations is the residential adaptation to potential structural failures. And, thus, we get the amphibious home.

Figure 1. Modern Marvels: Levees.
Source: http://www.history.com/shows.do?action=detail&episodeId=191834

"Amphibious house?" you incredulously say. Yes, an amphibious house. "Well, how's that different from a houseboat? (Figure 2)" Well, amphibious is the operative word here. It is essentially a house that sits on a foundation that can float. Imagine a house built on stilts. Now those stilts are really pilings driven deep into the ground. Next, the house can move vertically up or down, contained by those pilings. Lastly, the house usually sits on dry land until the flood comes.

Figure 2. Houseboat.
Source: http://www.kvh.com/mediasupport/marine/images/houseboat_300.jpg

"Oh...well, why don't you just build a house on stilts, like you see in Florida (Figure 3)?" To that, I have no response. Perhaps, it's too inconvenient for people to live in elevated houses. "Well, what about connections to utilities, like electricity, gas, sewage, etc?" I imagine there must be some arrangement similar to that of houseboats or houses on stilts. In any case, amphibious houses appear to be another alternative to people living in flood-prone areas.

Figure 3. House on stilts.
Source: http://www.valuevacationrentals.com/images/property/prop5543_22659.jpg

I always thought that houseboats were cool, more affordable than conventional housing anyway. In addition, I imagine it would suffer less damage in an earthquake. But I also thought there must be significant disadvantages. For example, it could be a long walk from one's car to the houseboat, especially in the rain. Also, the odor at low tide can be compelling.

But back to amphibious housing. It seems like the cutting-edge of amphibious home design is, not surprisingly, abroad, the Netherlands to be exact. I was never certain what the distinction was between the Netherlands and Holland. However, if the information on Wikipedia can be trusted, I learn that "Holland is a region in the central-western part of the Netherlands [1]." In any case, the area is famous for being below sea level (Figure 4), among other things. So to combat the likelihood of flooding, they are exploring the use of amphibious homes.

Figure 4. The Netherlands is largely below sea level.

Source: http://www.fragilecologies.com/img/netherlands.gif

I found an interview online, on inhabit.com, of an architect specializing in amphibious homes. I think he was the same person on the History channel program. He is Koen Olthuis of WaterStudio.nl. Reading over the interview, it looks like amphibious homes have yet to reach widespread adoption. Some of what has been design and built are pretty much still houseboats but with that European modern-design asthetic (I'm not sure what to call it, exactly). Anyway, the pictures are intriguing and the article is worth looking at. I've attached some of the designs below (Figures 4 and 5).

Figure 4 and 5. Amphibious homes.

Source: http://www.inhabitat.com/2006/08/29/interview-koen-olthius-of-waterstudionl/