Staying Afloat - Microhome
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London, UK
Competition - In practice work at Heta Architects
2023
3D printed model at 1:50
“Staying Afloat” is a microhomes concept, a future thinking proposal for mobile single-storey floating dwelling emerging as a symbol of sustainable future living on flood prone areas. Designed to be folding and flexible to suit neighbourhood clusters, it’s interchangeable form could position itself equally on narrow waterways, with its linear configuration, or on wider rivers with a folding triangular plan.
The “Staying Afloat” microhome concept takes inspiration from canal boat typologies, seamlessly integrating a functional kitchen, bedroom, living room and bathroom and split into three modules that can fold to create a more enclosed triangulated dwelling with communal external gathering spaces between. Transported in their linear configuration like traditional canalboats, and when moored the dwellings utilise their fold down mesh-like gantry ways as connecting access platforms interconnected across the water.
The modularised pods are built as standardised components with locally sourced lightweight timber structure, clad with a mix of lightweight solid and transparent recycled polycarbonate screens, and the overall dwellings are stabilised with recycled flotation barrels that also performs as water tanks. At the end of life, each module could be dismantled or interchanges and recycled for other purposes.
Elevation - linear form
Axonometric - triangular form
Exploded axonometric diagram
© CARGO TEST 2027