International conference on amphibious and floating architecture

On both days, keynote speeches by renowned colleagues from England, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Germany kicked off the lecture sessions. The event was rounded off by social events and a poster presentation, which provided an opportunity to hold discussions and strengthen contacts in a relaxed atmosphere. In a special part of the event (GAPS Panel), a discussion was held on the legal boundary conditions for building in and around water.

The event was concluded by a technical excursion to the Lusatian Lakeland with visits to several floating structures.

The event was hosted by the Institut für Schwimmende Bauten and the IfSB e.V. association, and organized and led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank A. Höfler from the Mobility Planning chair at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg.

Amphibious and floating architecture refer to an alternative flood protection strategy that allows an otherwise ordinary structure to float on the surface of rising floodwaters instead of falling victim to inundation.
An amphibious foundation maintains the building's connection to the ground by resting firmly on the earth under normal circumstances, but allows the building to float as high as necessary during flooding. It is a flood protection strategy that works with the natural inundation cycles of a flood-prone region, rather than trying to impede them.Floating Architecture includes individual buildings and larger developments on shorelines and lakes that float permanently on the surface of the water.
Amphibious design and floating architecture also encompass the concepts of land use planning, site selection, community resilience issues such as the position of buildings in systems with multiple lines of defense, and political considerations. Amphibious and floating design addresses issues of infrastructure, mechanical systems and utilities, system components and selection criteria, and issues of codification and certification.

Related information: http://icaade.org/