Flood Housing Competition


Norwich Union / RIBA Competition

The increasing threat of flooding presents a difficult challenge for future development in areas of flood risk.  This design concept explores the idea of building on a flood plain, and illustrates the potential for floodwaters to form part of a moated landscape. 

The design incorporates a number of measures to alleviate the impact of flooding on the residents, and seeks to take advantage of the beauty of the water filled landscape.

The houses feature a roof garden and rainwater harvesting, with cantilevered outdoor terrace of timber and concrete. 

Sustainable energy is derived from south facing photovoltaic roofs and geothermal borehole heat exchanger, where the pipework in the concrete piles use the stable temperatures below ground to heat and cool the house.