Manufacturing processes are ongoing to create flood-proof houses.
Abdullah Al Nayeem, a Civil Engineering student from Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, worked on the ground in Feni, Comilla, and Noakhali during the floods. He experienced people’s suffering personally while volunteering with rescue operations and relief distribution. He realised that every year during floods, a group of people loses their houses, needs to find refuge in shelters, and suffer immense pain, indicating the need for a long-term solution to this issue. Back in Dhaka, he began studying what might be done, finally discovering the concept of floating housing units.
Abdullah Al Nayeem explained, “The idea of floating houses had been invented a long time ago. But there wasn’t much research done to actually make it a reality. After additional research, I realised that the section of the home that keeps it afloat during floods required major repair work after the water recedes. This technique is costly and time-consuming, which is why it is unlikely to have progressed farther. So we started on the challenge of constructing a sustainable house with a construction cost closer to that of an average home, minimum requirements for upkeep, and permanent stability.”
“Tori,” the floating house endeavour, will stay afloat during floods and return to its original place as the water recedes. Abdullah Al Nayeem, Siam Al Nahiyan, and Abdul Awal are three students from Ahsanullah University’s Civil Engineering Department who are working on this project. Professor Md. Abdul Matin from the Civil Engineering Department, Syed Nazmul Haque, an engineer from the Bangladesh Water Development Board, and Nasrin Jahan, a former BRAC engineer, also helped construct the basic model.
Speaking with the team of creators announced that the floating house has been split into two parts: the superstructure and the substructure. The superstructure, or upper section, resembles a standard tin home. The substructure, or foundation (which will keep the home afloat), is constructed of rust-resistant, durable, and lightweight materials. The home will have a bathroom, kitchen, veranda and a water tank, making it functional both during and after floods. Abdullah Al Nayeem added, “We built a 1:6 scale mini-model for basic testing that cost seven thousand taka. Currently, we are looking for funds. With enough resources, we can construct the entire house in three to four days.”
