Architecture

Floating Bamboo House promises flexibility in face of climate change

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The Floating Bamboo House, by H&P Architects, is designed for people whose lives are river-based and at threat due to climate change
Le Minh Hoang
The Floating Bamboo House, by H&P Architects, is designed for people whose lives are river-based and at threat due to climate change
Le Minh Hoang
The Floating Bamboo House floats on plastic drums attached to its underside
Le Minh Hoang
Though they are not visible in the photos, the Floating Bamboo House will feature solar panels and a rainwater collection system
Le Minh Hoang
The Floating Bamboo House opens up to the outside
Le Minh Hoang
The Floating Bamboo House's interior measures 36 sq m (roughly 390 sq ft)
Le Minh Hoang
Though the main focus is for the Floating Bamboo House to serve as a home, H&P Architects also envisions it being used as a classroom or library
Le Minh Hoang
The Floating Bamboo House's interior layout is designed to be flexible
Le Minh Hoang
Though not pictured furnished, the Floating Bamboo House will include a kitchen area, as well as a bathroom and bedrooms, and have freshwater storage tanks and septic tanks installed
Le Minh Hoang
The Floating Bamboo House's different bamboo elements are held together using simple latches and ties
Le Minh Hoang
View gallery - 9 images

Longtime readers may recall the Blooming Bamboo flood-resistant home by H&P Architects. A decade later, the Vietnamese firm has produced a somewhat similar prototype bamboo floating dwelling envisioned for river-based populations under threat from climate change, especially those living on and around Vietnam's Mekong Delta.

The Floating Bamboo House is constructed from bamboo stems, as well as lightweight materials like compressed weaved bamboo sheets, leaves, corrugated iron, and bamboo screens. All of this is joined together using simple latches and ties, and it floats using plastic drums attached to the home's underside.

"Vietnam is one of the hardest-hit countries in the world by climate change," explained H&P Architects. "As forecast, 47 percent of the Mekong Delta area and 13 percent of the Red River Delta area will be submerged by the sea level rise of 1 meter [3.2 ft], directly affecting from 20 to 30 million people. In this context, FB House is believed to provide a useful alternative for millions of poor households to, as soon as possible, create a stable and safe accommodation themselves, and adapt to the worst scenario of responding to climate change."

The Floating Bamboo House's different bamboo elements are held together using simple latches and ties
Le Minh Hoang

The Floating Bamboo House measures 36 sq m (roughly 390 sq ft) and features a flexible interior layout spread over two levels. Though very basic in this prototype stage, it will eventually include a kitchen area, as well as a bathroom and bedrooms, and have freshwater storage tanks and septic tanks installed.

Additionally, the upstairs floor panels can be removed, opening up the space for use as a classroom or library instead. Its facade also opens up in multiple places, maximizing daylight and natural ventilation, and it's topped by a large roof that will feature a rainwater collection system and solar panels.

The Floating Bamboo House pictured is actually the second iteration of prototype model produced by H&P Architects. As of writing, we're awaiting more details on its future plans and when we can expect to see it completed and in use.

Source: H&P Architects

View gallery - 9 images
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6 comments
pbethel
We were supposed to have 2 to 4 meters of sea level rise by now according to the models 20 years ago.
Instead it has been millimeters.
And more recent models have been getting it just as wrong.
jerryd
pbethel, why are you flat out lying? Sea Level rise was to be foot in 100 yrs till now but recently it started accelerating to about 3'/100 yrs.
Here in Florida lots of land is now under salt water and a lot more under spring tides that wasn't 40 yrs ago.
Most of the Florida Keys home lots are now in the tidal zone,
Thus why I'm building a floating version of my Tiny houses that just floats in a flood, Not hard since I build boats too 45 yrs.
pete-y
What are 'simple latches and ties' needs more explanation.
aksdad
Global sea level rise as measured by satellites is about 3.4 mm per year or 0.34 m (13 inches) per century. Tide gauge data shows a slower trend. It will take about 300 years to rise 1 meter, strangely not mentioned by H&P Architects. Maybe they didn't know. River deltas and swamps often see higher rates due to unstable land, ever-shifting rivers, and land subsidence, but two tide gauge stations near the Mekong River delta show trends quite a bit lower than the global average so it will take more than 300 years to rise 1 meter in southeast Vietnam.
Bob Flint
Water up or down, either way, the winds will unfortunately shred this in sever storms, which are becoming more the norm.
TpPa
nice idea, but if your environment is flooded out, that means no work, or growing of food, still have to move inland.