As the effects of climate change are felt more and more each year, many homeowners find ways to prep for extreme calamities. For residents living in areas that are prone to storm surges and flooding, acquiring this "flood-proof" house may save them thousands of dollars worth of repairs in the eventuality of major flooding.
Conceptualized by a couple from Wrasbury, United Kingdom whose home was severely damaged by a flood in 2014, this ingenious design may provide an architectural solution for extreme weather events. According to Design Boom, the couple enlisted the help of London-based BAT Studio to design a flood-proof house -- one that can rise 800 millimeters, or roughly 2 feet from any ground.
Building that can rise above the floods pic.twitter.com/4322W3lhcw
— BAT Studio (@BAT_Studio) January 19, 2016
This is made possible by four hydraulic legs that act as stilts, which are integrated in the house. The prototype, which they named "The Greenhouse That Grows Legs," is a simple, rectangular room made of timber and aluminum composite mirrors. The hydraulic system is motorized, and conveniently works at the touch of a button.
For now, the structure isn't built for full-time living, as the designers have not addressed plumbing, gas, and electrical issues for the first prototype. Rather, it can be intended to store important items and act as a safe house for the family during a storm.
"This unique design protects both the building and its content from flood waters," BAT Studio stated. "We believe this novel approach to flood damage prevention is a world first."
In the United States alone, flooding has been a perennial problem in the last few years. According to the The New York Times, the recent flooding in New Jersey last Jan. 24 has resulted to almost $50,000 worth of damage per resident. Knowing your area's vulnerability and designing your home around it may help combat nature's harshest disasters.
Watch the house in action in the video below:
