Gadgetopia

Amphibious houses: I try not to re-post from Boing Boing too much since most everyone who reads this blog also reads that one. However, this was too good to pass up, and somewhat timely.

[Thirty seven] “swimming” houses are already strung along a branch of the Maas. At first glance, they seem quite unremarkable. The cellar, in this case, is not built into the earth, but on a platform. The hollow foundation of each house works in the same way as the hull of a ship, buoying the structure up above water. To prevent the houses from floating away, they slide up two steel posts - and as the water level sinks, so they sink back down again.

What a great idea of working with nature, instead of against it. Sometimes the best thing you can do as a desginer is admit that you’re not the Master of the Universe, and plan accordingly.