BAT studio designs hydraulic-liftable building to avoid flood damage

BAT studio designs hydraulic-liftable building to avoid flood damage
all images courtesy of BAT studio

when home owners erica and peter purchased a home on the shore of the thames in wraysbury, middlesex; they were told that their risk of flood was 1 in 100. as it turned out, their realtor was full of it, and after five floods in fifteen years, the worst ever being in 2014, the couple agreed that enough was enough. london-based firm BAT studio was contacted, who created a solution to provide safe refuge for crucial items in case of disaster, and a useful space for the rest of the time.

building in both positions 

their design, titled the ‘greenhouse that grows legs’, does just that. four integrated hydraulic legs enable the building to be raised 800mm (approx. 2ft) above ground at the touch of a button. the use of hydraulics guarantees a level lifting, regardless of the location — and collective weight — of whatever the small auxiliary building has. timber is the primary material used, with accents of green paint and aluminum composite mirrors installed between each column. 

reflection of surroundings 

interior with visible hydraulic systems 

mirrors on each column cause an infinity effect within the space 

internal glulam structure 

in lowered position 

control mechanism

hydraulic legs

reflections at sundown 

the structure is able to lift 800mm off ground level 

owners peter and erica, with their equally flood proof car in the background  

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions  feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: nick brink | designboom