LIFT House : an amphibious strategy for sustainable and affordable housing for the urban poor in flood-prone Bangladesh

Abstract

The LIFT house consists of two amphibious structures that are capable of adapting to rising water levels. These structures float up on buoyant foundations during floods, and return to ground level when water recedes. Floods in Bangladesh wash away homes, people, and their belongings, bringing cities to an immediate halt. The LIFT house is a sustainable, environmentally friendly house that provides all basic services to its residents without connection to the city service systems, through the use of indigenous materials and local skills. For the urban poor, home must often be transformed for domestic industry as well as other daily activities.