Floating houses: A response to rising sea levels
A discussion of homes built in waterways of the Netherlands.
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Transcript
NARRATOR: Since reports were released about rising sea levels this man's ideas have been in great demand - architect Koen Olthuis from Den Haag builds floating houses. Until now, however, only a select few have been in a position to afford them.
KOEN OLTHUIS: "It's a floating villa, and a villa is not for everybody. We need bigger floating apartment blocks and then the price for an apartment will drop immediately. And that'll be the next step and Holland is ready for it because we have more and more water and we have problems. This is one of the solutions."
NARRATOR: Living on the water in houses and building that are just as roomy and comfortable as those on land. His buildings float on a tank foundation, stabilized through stakes that allow the construction to rise and fall with water levels. The electrical services and pipes are flexible. His houses have been built in the Netherlands, but for larger scale projects only foreign countries have shown the courage to enlist his aid. For Dubai, Koen Olthuis designed this cruise ship terminal, 700 meters long.
Slowly but surely these floating houses are becoming more common on the docks. Susanne Kolmer and her family live in this red house on a canal south of Amsterdam. For the parcel of water they paid €200,000 with another €400,000 for the house itself. It's her dream house, 180 square meters over three stories. She sent her kids to swimming lessons a bit earlier, but apart from that she says it's like living on land - almost.
ROSANNE KOLMER: "My mother-in-law, when it's only slightly windy, becomes sea sick. She feels it some times when we are on holiday on the flat land for some time. When you come home you can feel the difference. I can ask you. You feel it as well, don't you?
NARRATOR: The Dutch government also supports these living on the water projects. When the effects of global warming hit, high dikes won't be enough. Floating houses might well be the arks of modern society.
KOEN OLTHUIS: "It's a floating villa, and a villa is not for everybody. We need bigger floating apartment blocks and then the price for an apartment will drop immediately. And that'll be the next step and Holland is ready for it because we have more and more water and we have problems. This is one of the solutions."
NARRATOR: Living on the water in houses and building that are just as roomy and comfortable as those on land. His buildings float on a tank foundation, stabilized through stakes that allow the construction to rise and fall with water levels. The electrical services and pipes are flexible. His houses have been built in the Netherlands, but for larger scale projects only foreign countries have shown the courage to enlist his aid. For Dubai, Koen Olthuis designed this cruise ship terminal, 700 meters long.
Slowly but surely these floating houses are becoming more common on the docks. Susanne Kolmer and her family live in this red house on a canal south of Amsterdam. For the parcel of water they paid €200,000 with another €400,000 for the house itself. It's her dream house, 180 square meters over three stories. She sent her kids to swimming lessons a bit earlier, but apart from that she says it's like living on land - almost.
ROSANNE KOLMER: "My mother-in-law, when it's only slightly windy, becomes sea sick. She feels it some times when we are on holiday on the flat land for some time. When you come home you can feel the difference. I can ask you. You feel it as well, don't you?
NARRATOR: The Dutch government also supports these living on the water projects. When the effects of global warming hit, high dikes won't be enough. Floating houses might well be the arks of modern society.