Flood-proof living at the riverside

Abstract

In the face of changing climate and the increasing threats of flooding in low-lying Dutch polder landscapes, the demand for new development in adaptive residential architecture becomes crucial. This research explores the development of a lightweight amphibious building concept, designed to dynamically respond to changing water levels in the flood-prone wetlands of Groningen. The study delves into living with water typologies, construction techniques for amphibious buildings, and the utilization of paper and wood as a building material in lightweight constructions. The central hypothesis posits that a combination of a dynamic semi-floating foundation, coupled with paper as a sustainable and lightweight building material, offers new possibilities for future buildings in the floodplains of rivers. The research question addresses how buildings can effectively adapt to fluctuating water levels in Dutch polder landscapes through the incorporation of a lightweight biobased building construction and an adaptable dynamic floating foundation.

The objective is to identify key elements by forming a series of design requirements for an amphibious building concept that tackles climate challenges by new construction techniques and biobased building materials. The thesis is carried out by a literature study of floating constructions and paper constructions, a precedents study and an experimenting phase through research by design. The findings indicate that an amphibious construction could be implemented in various ways, depending on the situation and location. When the river’s floodplain is submerged, the building will start to float. It should be considered that everything is connected flexibly, and access roads remain accessible. Paper constructions contribute to a stable, more sustainable, and cheaper building, enabling larger-scale buildings to be executed amphibiously. Paper constructions, with the right design, can meet the construction standards of traditional building materials and also score well in terms of recyclability and disassembly. However, paper as a building material poses additional risks in comparison with the traditional building materials. Also, the practical longevity of such structures remains a matter of debate. For an amphibious building that is specifically aimed at adapting to the future, it is important that the building materials can last a long time. Paper as a building material is a good alternative, but in the application of amphibious living it could be inadequate due to its lifespan.

These research results are used in the design assignment of an amphibious housing complex in a water-rich neighborhood in the Reitdiep area in Groningen. This building implements aspects such as sustainability, technical features, adaptability to climate change and collective living community.