The fully amphibious house comprises a low-density foam base with a traditional house constructed on top. It remains livable throughout the flood season but is much more costly than retrofitted floors. Image credit: Zahrun Zannat.
The retrofitted floating floor can be made affordably and with local materials, making it an accessible option for people living in flood-prone regions in Bangladesh. Image credit: Zahrun Zannat.
Flood hazards
Float on floods
The amphibious house remained habitable throughout the flood season, and that family was able to keep livestock safe inside, too, Zannat reported. But the whole community benefitted from the floating outhouse.
"When the area is inundated, the women get to have access to a hygienic station that can help reduce skin diseases and other types of disease," said Zannat. "Having the sanitation unit really helped them."
Retrofitted sanitation units provide a flood-resistant space for menstruating women to have access to clean spaces. Image credit: Zahrun Zannat.
Areas surrounding floating sanitation units can also protect livestock during floods. Image credit: Zahrun Zannat.
While retrofitting floating floors is relatively accessible, amphibious buildings are expensive because the foam used to construct the floating base is expensive and produced in the Netherlands. Producing the foam in Bangladesh could drastically cut costs and help make amphibious buildings more affordable, Zannat said. Having construction subsidized by local governments could also help.
Even if building whole communities with floating houses is a distant goal, providing communities with floating hygiene buildings and communal shelters could be accomplished more quickly and help many families.
Despite hurdles to increasing access, Zannat is optimistic about bringing this technology to Bangladesh.
"I'm hopeful," she said. "There are some challenges, but the benefits quite outweigh the negatives. And all these challenges? We can solve them."
