Floating bamboo houses

Vietnamese architectural studio H&P Architects designed a floating housing model for Vietnamese river-based locals, made of mainly bamboo.

Vietnam is hit hard by climate change. It is predicted that 47 per cent of the Mekong Delta area and 13 per cent of the Red River Delta area will be submerged in the upcoming years, affecting millions of people.

Called Floating Bamboo House 2, the structure offers a useful alternative for millions of poor households to create safe accommodation. The building is a new type of three-compartment house, made of solid cored bamboo. The bamboo has diameters ranging from 3 to 4.5 cm and measure 3 or 6 m. The material is joined together simply with latches and ties. The house is covered and partitioned with lightweight materials, including compressed weaved bamboo sheets, bamboo screens, leaves, and corrugated iron. The large roof is designed to collect rainwater and harness solar energy.

The house stays afloat thanks to plastic drum systems tied to the floor beneath. In the centre of the house are freshwater storage tanks and septic tanks. The ground floor measures 36 square metres and a first floor of 12 square metres. The latter can be removed for a more spacious layout. The aim is to connect the houses in the future with floating playing grounds, vegetable-growing rafts, fish-raising areas, et cetera.

Photos: Le Minh Hoang