Fiber Float

The global climatic issue of rising sea levels makes the neighbourhood of Venice, Los Angeles, a potential flooding site which would disrupt the current living conditions. By the year 2100, it is estimated that much of the neighbourhood of Venice would be at serious risk of flooding. Through close analysis there is am imperative need for such a project on account of the fact there are several areas of lower elevation near the canals as compared to the homes closest to the shore. This thesis will focus on designing homes for climate resilience.

This project re-imagines the existing neighbourhood to make it a more resilient and socially integrated community. In the words of Jane Jacobs “Neighbourhoods aren’t just about the buildings but also about its social networks”. This project will propose to design elements that will reinforce socially diverse, equitable, and inclusive communities and represent a future of housing in which individual parts come together to re-figure and reform culturally, economically, and environmentally resilient living arrangements.

Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites can be used creatively to design different housing configurations.The homes would be prefabricated in factories which would make them cheaper than normal homes. They could be used to turn waterfronts into new neighbourhoods. FRP creates opportunity for more affordable, sustainable and efficient alternatives for safe and desirable housing. Their strength, low density and lightweight makes them easy to transport. It can also be used to create more modular elements which can be assembled and disassembled on site easily.