The Hindu : National : All set for a house that floats

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Sunday, Oct 29, 2006
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National

All set for a house that floats

Vidya K.S.

Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

AN INNOVATION: The `Float a Cabin' model in demonstration. At left, it is seen at a low water level, and at right, the structure floats when submerged.

VISAKHAPATNAM: The concept sounds simple enough - a house that floats. A perfect remedy for flood-stricken areas, the idea is based on the much-used, age-old Archimedes principle of buoyancy.

A principle discovered famously in the buff by the Greek scholar, buoyancy is the upward force on an object immersed in fluid (or gas), enabling it to float. Ships, balloons, airships, boats and, if B. Satish Prasad, succeeds in his endeavours, even houses can, now, float.

"Global warming and erratic weather cycles have resulted in high levels of flooding in numerous areas, submerging homes, causing death and destruction. `Float a Cabin' is a possible solution to these problems," Mr. Prasad, who is the managing director of Ballary Shipping Enterprises, said.

Inspired by Dutch floating houses, he has tailored the model to suit indigenous needs and plans to market `Float a Cabin' under the name `Noah's Ark'. "I have been surfing the Net trying to get inputs from other Indian units on such projects. But so far I have not come across any such programmes," the 53-year-old, who retired from the Navy three years ago, said. The cabin, which is assembled out of composite panels, is mounted atop a large rectangular base made of fibreglass and polyurethane-infused materials. This structure is attached to four stainless steel pillars that have been embedded deep underground in a manner that allows it to freely slide up and down. "When the area floods, the house can rise up to a height of 15 feet," he claimed.

The base acts like a life jacket, providing buoyancy for the cabin to float when the water level rises. "The depth, height and other criteria to construct these cabins can be adapted to meet different requirements, depending on local flood level data," Mr. Prasad said.

According to him, the cabin has a durability of 30 years and can be designed to store food, water and medicines. The entrepreneur plans to build a 15-feet by 15-feet model to demonstrate the practicability of the scheme. The flood-relief cabin model is estimated to cost Rs. 6 lakh It is claimed to be resistant to extreme temperatures, torrential rain and corrosion and can be assembled in tough terrains such as jungles, deserts and mountains.

"We plan to take up construction in flood-prone areas such as the Krishna and Godavari river basins for our pilot project," he added.

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