In response to rising sea levels, this floating housing project considers the user’s position in a site vulnerable to flooding due to climate change. The design emphasizes supplying clean water and incorporates elements mindful of life underwater. Without tension in the ecosystem, the sole existence of a species is impossible due to the interdependent relationship of coexistence. Ultimately, this project celebrates the experience of life on the water as natural inhabitants of the land.
School of Design | Graduate Interior Design Student: Soo Yoon Chung Faculty: David Ling
The user is constantly reminded of the water cycle as they circulate the floating house from all angles. Constructed of salvaged shipping containers, fishing nets, recycled plastic containers, coral stones, rain chains, and flexi-floats, the design of IN FLUX embodies embracing the water cycle and the marine species.
This exploded axonometric view depicts the devices incorporated in the architecture of IN FLUX for rainwater collection. A slanted butterfly roof, salvaged fishing nets with recycled plastic containers functioning as a central art piece, rain chains, gutters, and flexi-floats are used for water storage.
This room is called the learning/gathering room because it is an essential part of the user’s routine to circulate it to enter their rooms in the two separate wings above this floor. In order to be mindful of the circumstances of living on the water, the material selections in this space are catered to the local environment. For instance, salvaged marine sail cloth is applied as the wall covering due to its water resistance, and Miami Date Pine is used on the floor as it is resistant to termites in this region. As a design element, the staircases and built-in furniture are custom-made. The organic shapes of the desk are placed throughout the house to mimic the shapes of the mussels growing below the flexi-floats. Furthermore, the stairs are made of coral stone as they withstand all weather conditions, and they are attached to the ceiling with nautical ropes wrapped around salvaged boat cleats on the treads of the stairs. Thus, the learning/gathering room allows users to pause to sit or chat as they face the central courtyard with the hanging art piece.
