FLOATING AND MOVING HOUSESDr K M Soni, Chief Engineer, CPWD, Western Zone I, Mumbai

Floating Houses“Floating” term in the foundation

engineering is used when the soil beneath the footing does not experience any extra load, as the load of the structure is equal or less than the soil displaced.

Floating houses are similar in concept and normally defined those houses which are constructed on water in a way that the load of the structure is equal or less than the uplift force of the water which helps in floating the house on water.

Types of Floating HousesThere are two types of floating

houses, one which permanently float and

other that float only during flood waters else get placed on ground, particularly during dry season if there is no water.

House boats in Kashmir (www.holidayrentals.co.in)

Floating house on log raft (www.niftyhomestead.com)

Floating house on steel pontoon (www.pinterest.com)

Floating house on foam block (www.inspirationgreen.com)

Principle of floating housesFloating houses do not require foundation

and are based on the principle of buoyancy thus are also called buoyant homes. Thus the base of the structure should be such that it helps in floating as well is able to take the dead load of the house, live load and other loads to be encountered by the house.

The houses may be constructed on boats, hollow pipes, light weight pads and similar materials which help in the floating as well taking up loads.

Floating SystemsFlotation Systems being used

include log floats, solid Styrofoam encased in rubber, foam filled steel pontoons, concrete pontoons, concrete and foam, wood and foam, polyethylene shell with solid core polystyrene block moulded inside, fibreglass etc.

Floating house on concrete tubes (www.niftyhomestead.com)

Principle of Vertically moving Floating HousesA steel frame that holds the

flotation blocks is attached to the underside of the house. There are four 'vertical guidance' poles not far from the corners of the house. The tops of the poles are attached to the steel frame. The poles telescope out of the ground, allowing the house to move up and down.

www.livinspaces.net

Floating houses/amphibious homes (www.niftyhomestead.com)

New Water, Netherland, floating apartment complex(www.porhomme.com)

Services All the pipes, ducts and wires for water, gas,

electricity and sewage disposal in such amphibious homes are flexible, designed to remain functional even when the house rises several metres from its usual position.

Solar panels are provided for the energy requirements.

Incinolet toilets which burn waste are provided. Drinking water is collected from rainstorms and

filtered into a glass partition wall inside. The inner temperature is regulated in a case by

a geothermal pond loop.

Life in a floating housesRelaxingRomanticComfortableLow storage spaceLess accommodationCost?Heating/cooling?Maintenance/repairSafe during floods

Hotel in Qatar, Saudi Arabia (trendatory.com)

Floating island, Seol (m.hangang.seoul.go.kr)

Floating city, Maldives (Proposed) (www.dutchdocklands.com)

Lily pads, proposed (www.gizmag.com)

Need for floating housesThe sea level is said to have risen

by 20 centimetres in the last century and is expected to rise by three times that amount in the 21st century. Therefore floating houses will not just be a fashionable lifestyle but a necessity.

Safe in flood prone areas during floods

Moving housesEnvelope of the houses can be

fabricated, shown to the customer and towed to the site. The whole structure will require to be anchored to the foundation. In future, if house owner wants to shift it, it can be dismantled and re-installed at other place. Interiors can be placed as per the requirements through modular parts like kitchen, baths etc.

(worldartsme.com)

(www.allswing.org)

(www.nachi.org)

(www.angieslist.com)

Concluding RemarksIndia has islands, coastal areas and

areas highly prone to floods. Therefore, there is a need to construct floating houses and have expertise in this type of construction.

There is a need to develop technology for moving houses which can be transported and constructed early particularly during disasters or when required to be shifted due to other considerations.