We loaded the prototypes with bricks to see how much load they could support. Our boat withstood 6 bricks before it capsized.

Today we tested our prototype boat which worked well if not a little flimsy. But we were able to construct a launch it in the water

We devised a ratchet system of doubling the height of the shed in the event of flooding. This meant that the shed can be used as normal throughout the year with a ready made sleeping space available above when needed in an emergency.

Today we went to B&Q to get the materials for the model. This is how architects fit 3 meters pipes on a bus.

After a few days of welding, filing, sawing and gluing our model is starting to take shape.

Nice bit of welding by Dan. Frame is looking great. Lets hope it floats!

Today we finished the model and approved that it folds up, ready to test it on wednesday in Sale Water Park where we will finish assembling it.

Finishing the model and getting it ready for the Sale Water Park testing this Wednesday

For the buoyant base, we discovered a company in the US that was growing mushrooms as a substitute for polystyrene. The root is used to make building insulation and they had even started using it for the core of surfboards. This is the material that we have suggested for the base specifically for these properties.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6VAakle-Eo

Over the weekend I created some basic 1:20 drawings at A3, finalising what our temporary floating structure looks like.

Finishing the model in the workshop today. It's folds up successfully and we attached the air bags to the base. Just hope it floats when we test it on Wednesday.

Structural diagram- whatever floats your boat!

Floating element of the base- mushroom grown polystyrene alternative. Grows in 2days, can be grown into existing structure, or grown to any shape.

Video about the material and its different applications!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6VAakle-Eo

Approach to East entrance

Emergency floating shed structure, diagram showing floating base and lightweight structure.

Courtesy of TEAM Flaus //

:)

Brockholes visitors centre!

http://www.brockholes.org/

The essentials. Laptop, sketchbooks, coffee and snacks. Designs are finalised ready for testing next week.

Filing down the metal structure ready to be welded next week.

Workshop Day 1. Groups are preparing to make their structures. Materials include, metal, wood, perspex, polystyrene and foam.

A talk from the Environmental Agency on the UK's flood defense systems and the presentation and review of our prototype design for a flood relief shelter

Consideration of precedents for the design of our flood relief shelter and some initial sketches of the various design ideas suggested during group discussion.

Day for model making of our emergency escape floating structure

Talk by Andrew Cameron from the Environmental Agency/ An important data for floods in the UK + feedback on our group proposals

The final quasi-sectional model ready to be tested in the water.

The base finished in the workshop. Foam represents mushroom material, the frame is made of wood and piles are made of metal. The image shows how it is supposed to work if the flood occurs.

After doing some research we decided that our floating house would have a base made of mushroom board. It is eco-friendly lightweight material that has the features of more or less polystyrene. With this material you can grow your house from mycelium and agricultural waste in a few days only!

For more information, check it out at http://ecovativedesign.com/mushroom-materials/ .

On Wednesday we also had a chance to present our ideas to Andrew Cameron. He found our Flouse interesting and therefore we finilized our design - we agreed with Andrew that it is mostly about technologies and how the base works as it would work with any design on it.

On Wednesday 07 May we received a talk from Senior Flood Risk Management Adviser Andrew Cameron who introduced us to the impact of flooding and our actual response to flood risk. He also pointed out the importance of desiging floating shelters in order to protect people from damages in advance.

While in Brockholes we paid special attention to the construction of the houses and materials used. The roof made the biggest impression on me - especially when I touched the material it was made of and surprisingly it was soft like a carpet!
Well done, Adam Kahn!

It seems there are still places to which dogs are not allowed! :)

After having decided that Brockholes Nature Reserve are going to be our main precedent we went for a trip there to see how it works in reality. The image shows what it feels to walk onto the floating platform.

Tubes stacked in the metal workshop ready to file and weld into a frame.

Metal tubes ready for filing and welding for the frame of the floating structure.

Dan and Nick working on their floating prototype model. Lots of filing of metal tubes for the frame which will then be welded together.

We discussed and tested what material we thought was best to get the idea of the structural frame across and then packed the pieces up into a neat pile to finish the day.

This shows part of the process in making the underneath of the structure and how each panel will connect up by tightening a thread of string.

Today we started making the prototype model for our floating temporary structure. We chose foam board for the base and sides as it is lightweight, waterproof and it floats.

The image shows the corner detail in the prototype model where the steel pylon runs inside a steel sheath attached to the base. The sheath is housed in a reinforced plate to cope with the forces of the moving water.

We completed the buoyant base prototype model in workshop using mdf for the frame and steel tubing for the vertical pylons. As water levels rise the structure moves up the steel keeping afloat but not drifting away.

In the workshop today making the prototype for our storable floating rescue boat. Blue foam seemed the best waterproof substitute material for the model.

Last Wednesday, Andrew Cameron from the Environment Agency came to talk about "The Challenge of Flood Risk in UK" and the different responses to it. After the talk, he made comments about the different proposal for the Floating House Project.

Studio 712 (our studio room) has no external door handle. This proved a little difficult when outside the room and the door was shut.

On Wednesday we were joined by Andy Cameron, a Civil Engineer from the Environment Agency who gave us a talk on the increasing threat of floods to the UK. He then came round to each group and gave advice and suggested improvements for our designs.

An infographic I produced from the data presented by Andy Cameron of the Environment Agency on flooding statistics across the UK.

We were then grouped into fours and given some time to discuss possible designs and floatation strategies for our designs, before presenting those to the entire group.

We have been asked to design a floating shelter to be used in emergency flood situations. We will then prototype, model and finally test our models to see if they float.

8 Steel tubes I cut for a 1:10 model of the floating system implemented in the base. The 500mm lengths represent the steel pylons concreted into the ground, with the 50mm lengths acting as the steel collars fixed to the base in which the pylons fit inside.

A sketch experimenting the corner detail of the base/ pylon connection based on the issues brought up by Andy Cameron on mechanical seizure on parts close to the ground. The movable parts are elevated here to reduce this risk.

Andy Cameron (civil engineer) giving a presentation on flooding issues from the environment agency.

Andy Cameron who is also a civil engineer gave us some advice on how our temporary floating shelter would work and how it could be improved.

A presentation by Andy Cameron from the Environment Agency speaking about the impacts and responses to flooding.

We discussed all the initial ideas that each of us had and came up with the best design. I developed diagrams of how the system would work.

Presentation to give us a guide for the final 2 A2 sheets which should present our proposal

Exploded axonometric of our design for a storable escape boat In the event of flooding. The inflatable sections are in shown in red. The White is a solid base made of plastic panels.

Andy Cameron from the Environment Agency giving feedback on the designs for floating structures. Here he is speaking to the 'Flaus' group about their ideas.

Initial development of the floating boat structure

Andy Cameron from the Environment Agency speaking about the risks and impacts of flooding. Very informative presentation which hit home about how real the dangers are!

Our collaborator wasn’t able to make it for the first day, but he sent over a video message…. Thanks John!

Friday session- three groups presented their design ideas and precedents for floating structures. Great ideas about materials, details and practicalities for structures used in flood-risk areas.

To scale at 1:10 showing a section through the proposed buoyant structure, pylons and envelope showing possible program in he volume

A section at 1:20 on A4 through the buoyant base. The external material is made up of concrete with a waterproof membrane between this layer and the organic core that provides the buoyancy. (The section is a cut through the proposed base and pylons. The structure above is a representation of the volume given by the brief, not an actual proposal for the form of the envelope)

A precedent photograph of a floating deck fixed into place by a collar fitted around the vertical pile. The deck is allowed to move up and down with the tide and so we propose to use similar technology in our group proposal in the event of flooding.

An infographic I produced to explaining the causing of flooding, its effect on the Gloucester area as the site and the ideas for disaster relief floating architecture.

An infographic I produced to summarise the requirements of the brief set out by the client.