Architect Bart van Bueren pilots idea to make Lismore buildings to float during flood

Out of all the ideas to rebuild Lismore, residents didn’t expect this bold idea by a Dutch architect to be put forward. See the idea

Is this the innovating concept that could floodproof Lismore?

A Northern Rivers based Dutch water architect has revealed a big plan that enables the flood-prone buildings to “float up” and has been labelled as “soft solution that brings hard resilience”.

Bart van Bueren who has been living in rural Lismore for the last two years came up with the idea following the record-breaking catastrophe in February.

He set up the company ‘Waterarchitect’ in 2007 and coined the idea of a “floating city” earning him international acclaim, Van Bueren believes this idea could be piloted in Lismore.

After walking through the streets helping locals clean out their homes, he describes the aftermath of the floods as “grim”, and wants to contribute to the debate to help rebuild the historic town.

“This is a part of the wider solution but it is not the whole solution,” he said.

“Lismore is a gorgeous town with a historical centre, there are things you can’t just give up.

“This is not a crazy architecture thing, it’s a well-reasoned economic design.”

The design shows how during a flood these buildings have the ability to float up with the rising tide.

With low cost and lightweight structures, the foundation can lift a home or commercial building more than 10 metres above ground to avoid significant flood damage.

Dutch architect Bart Van Bueren Picture: Supplied.

The concept includes a mix of conventional building materials and flood resilient engineering.

“The reinforced concrete columns act as a shield against flood current and debris,” he said.

“These walls are rooted strong into the ground and allow the middle body of the building to vertically slide upwards, as the body can float like a boat when a flood rises.

“The body is made from lightweight materials such as cross-laminated timber and a hull that provides buoyancy.”

Mr Van Bueren has had experience overseas in dealing with his amphibious home idea including in the United States where he worked with experts in New Orleans, a city that regularly experiences floods.

He says his design is influenced by technologies that have proven successful elsewhere.

One of the key questions surrounding the project was the risk posed by debris being stuck in between the levels of the floating building.

Dutch architect Bart Van Bueren is piloting an 'Amphibious floating home' for the people of Lismore Picture: Supplied.

Mr Van Bueren says his design has elements that mitigates the risk of things like branches or cars blocking the building from receding back down to ground level.

“Floating debris like a falling tree that is heavy will follow the current, that is what the shield (concrete walls) are for,” he said.

“The current will push it around, it may touch the floating building but it won’t go below it.

“Debris crawling on bottom of the flood and wouldn’t enter the building as it gets blocked by a low wall on the ground.”

Dutch architect Bart Van Bueren is piloting an 'Amphibious floating home' for the people of Lismore Picture: Supplied.

Mr van Bueren knows this might be an unconventional solution which the local community may hesitate on before embracing but he lauded the history of the Northern Rivers and Lismore’s innovative DNA.

He says it must become part of the considerations for the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation led by NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, the body leading the rebuild.

“Lismore has its own identity it can show its pride. Indeed as many people say it will be expensive, it will only be expensive because things aren’t conventional and some (building codes) might need to be reinvented,” he said.

“A big building not just a house with some public function could be a great pilot to prove the concept works to give the community trust.”

Lismore City Council General Manager John Walker said everyone with “any ideas of how to best solve the housing issue after our February 28 natural disaster to make a submission to the NSW government’s housing taskforce”.