Buoyant River Homes

The team at Baca Architects found an innovative way to reduce flooding in residences with the design of a river home called Formosa located on the River Thames. The house's foundations are made out of a series of docks that cleverly protect the home from rising tides and potential flooding that is common in the area. In lieu of the home's design, the house is able to float on water offering a luxurious living space that stays dry even as the river naturally changes.

The River Thames is known for changing banks often, creating an unpredictable contrasting level in water heights. To avoid the shift in water damaging the home, Baca Architects structured the Formosa to be build overtop of separate dock foundations. This allows the house to float and move accordingly to the changing tide, while staying dry.