Justin Traylor - Waterway House

**jtraylor** · 11-11-2011, 05:53 PM

Thanks, it really is easy!

**jtraylor** · 11-17-2011, 07:07 PM

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to post an image of my initial modeling/composition. This still has a lot that needs to be added, for instance the river bottom needs some rocks, anchors for the cables, etc. but it's a start. About the shape of the platform the house is on, the idea is that the diagonal sides and round gate will help keep random debris in the river moving downstream and not get stuck on the front of the house. Since this is a remote and undeveloped location, I want the house to be minimally invasive to this ecosystem. The gate would fold down under the water to allow a raft or small boat to enter the garage area.

Let me know what you think,

Justin

**Russell L. Thomas** · 11-17-2011, 07:20 PM

Looking good, you probably could have more fun with the floating platform and the house itself, to make it a fun self contained floating environment.... Just thinking outloud, looking good

**AubreyM** · 11-17-2011, 07:46 PM

Nice update.
If this is a floating structure you should think about some sort of floatation structures like integrated pontoons or something. Right now the house looks like it is fixed in place resting on the riverbed.

**jtraylor** · 11-17-2011, 07:54 PM

Thanks Aubrey and Russell. There are pontoons under the platform, but thanks for pointing out that you can't see them.

**AubreyM** · 11-17-2011, 08:06 PM

It's not so much that you can't see them as the gap between the house and the waterline.
I found this online...http://static.urbarama.com/photos/original/19171.jpg

**jtraylor** · 11-17-2011, 08:12 PM

Cool thanks, that gives me an idea of how to remove that gap. Closing that gap would help with trying to be minimally invasive too, because stuff floating down the river could get stuck in the gap under the deck.

**Rod** · 11-17-2011, 09:16 PM

I can't tell at this point what kind of water it is, but if it is in an area prone to flooding you might think about what happens during a flood event. In New Orleans they have developed a way for the house to have a vertical component that allows the structure to move up and down and maintain it's position. It'd be a shame for it to break free from anchors and go down stream.

**jtraylor** · 11-17-2011, 09:21 PM

Thanks Rod that's a good point. It sure wouldn't be good to be inside the house and realize you were drifting away.

**jtraylor** · 11-22-2011, 10:47 PM

So I've been playing around with some ideas, and this is an update shot. The first thing is I have changed the shape of the water turbines, to more of a fish-like shape. Before they were looking a little too much like binoculars on strings. Next I've added a new pontoon system that forms a single piece and closes the gap between the water and the deck to the outside. This way debris floating downstream will have less of a chance of getting stuck on the house. Incorporated in the pontoon is a series of cable reels that can release during a flood, and add much more length to the anchor cables. This way the house can float no matter the water level. Finally, I've altered the house model to incorporate a greenhouse. With a short outdoor growing season in Alaska, and the side carport becoming a waste of space in my model, a green house made sense. Also, along the same lines I think the rest of the house will utilize solar heat through large windows and skylights.

There is still a long way to do, let me know what you think.

Justin