In 1820, a landslide on Washington’s Camano Island sent a 4m (13ft) wave into nearby Hat Island, destroying homes and drowning many of the local people. Now one designer has created a concept house that allows water to flow through it, in an attempt to protect existing residents from the same fate. The 3,140 square-foot house is located on the northern end of the island and is the work of architect Dan Nelson of Designs Northwest Architects.
This is because the home’s two main floors are situated 2.7m (9ft) above ground. They are supported by a steel frame and strategically placed pillars, according to a report by Tuan Nguyen in Smithsonian Magazine.
The gaps between the columns are filled in with clear glass doors that slide shut and are designed to break with ease under the force of flooding. This would allow the water to flow through the bottom chamber and out the opposite side dispersing the force and reducing pressure on the columns.
