ZEMCH 2015 - International Conference Proceedings | Page 147
Figure 9: Floodwater flow on proposed design building, illustration
Overall, figure below (Fig.10) summarizes building system, and explains all working mechanisms.
Blocks A, B, and C are the basic houses’ division of every floor, connected by center column, which
is structured deep in the ground, and around the column (in white color) is the main staircase
that will be the access tool to building blocks. The lowest level of the building, illustrated in grey
color, contains the buoyant device. In case of floods, these devices will be filled with water before
it reaches the house, making the buoyant device float, floating the building with it. The proposed
building design will only have the flexibility of moving vertically; upwards and downwards, and
the level of the water will dedicate its height, keeping the house and all interior content dry and
safe.
Figure 10: Building buoyant system before and after the presence of flood (3DS Max render)
Structural walls will contain multiple layers to protect building interior from its exterior unwanted
weather. Walls will include, interior wallboards, nailing ribs, studs, spray on insulation, and finally
waterproof plastic finishes, and by offsetting the exterior finish of the house, creating multipurpose wall functions as a rain screen, and heat/humid resistant material finish, which will resist
any approximate of 90% of the house, by avoiding any humid heat entering the space. Using this
method, building is saving energy while keeping the interior space cooler.
In addition, for dry and sunny seasons, windows must also be protect by heat reflectors, to enable
them to work as shading devices for house interiors, by rebounding outdoor radiation and keeping cool air into the interior space. Furthermore, heat exhaustion, hot air produced by occupants
and building equipment, is always stored high in ceiling levels as shown in figure below (Fig.11),
and by allowing openings through the staircase, around structural column; air will flow and exit
from interior space to the exterior.
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