Swimming houses in the Netherlands because of global warming

[neweurope]

One fourth of the Netherlands is below sea level. Because of global warming, raising sea level and an estimated 25 percent more rain in the future the Netherlands are now trying out amphibian houses which can move up and down 5 meters in case of flood. 37 of them have been built so far.

http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,522140,00.jpg

The Netherlands will have to widen the flood areas where building is forbidden in the next years to include up to 500.000 hectars. In 15 test areals in flood areas building will be possible now - but only amphibian houses will be allowed. Architect Koen Althuis even has a concept for floating towers 100 meters high. Near Amsterdam a town of swimming houses with 12.000 houses is being considered.

http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,522143,00.jpg
computer-animation: swimming town

The government is organizing a contest for engineers, city planners and architects.

That's the way a government should handle the problems global warming causes... The article says that engineers form Louisiana and Texas are informing themselves in the Netherlands right now. Unfortunately I think that this might be a solution for New Orleans - but only for the rich. I cannot imagine that public housing will be built like this because it is more expensive of course.

http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,522153,00.jpg

Link here (unfortunately in German)
http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/0,1518,376465,00.html

edit: English translation of the whole article here -
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,377050,00.html
thanks for the link, Kellanved!

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. Amazing

Great link.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Hmmm that's an interesting concept. But won't work here for a lot

of people since so many of us can't even afford the kind of houses that can't swim.

[BlueEyedSon]

3. But we are the greatest country in the world! Are you saying the

Dutch have more money, or a bigger middle class???

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. I am saying my trailer has holes in the floor and isn't likely to float

[BlueEyedSon]

8. ooops, forgot

:sarcasm:

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. But other people should be so lucky to have a trailer with a holey

floor. (And the RWers wonder how I can hate my own country sometimes.)

[rodeodance]

7. "The Netherlands will have to widen the flood areas"--NO and the area

needs to reclaim the 'flood plains"-as they did on the Mississippi after the floods of 93.

[neweurope]

5. Ahem yes - that's one of my points. MOST people over here

cannot afford a house of their own. I can't even dream of one. But the government of the Netherlands is planning for the future - for the future of all the population.

------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Sadly half of America would rather die than follow a European

nation's lead. *shaking head in disgust*

[BlueEyedSon]

9. I say let them

[Nihil]

15. Two birds with one stone

Thinking about it, that really is a "win-win" situation isn't it?

[rodeodance]

12. great technological innovations-yet the real problem has to addressed

also----rising water levels!

[neweurope]

14. Certainly. In the Netherlands you'll be forcing open doors!

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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[Kellanved]

10. Spiegel has now an English translation online

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,377050,00.html

:hi:

[neweurope]

13. Thanks Kellanved :) I should have looked before clumsily translating

myself.

:thumbsup:

---------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[neweurope]

16. I know, Delay.... but still -*kick*

------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[Cleita]

17. The Netherlands is so far ahead of us in social ideas

and making sure everyone in the population benefits from them, unlike us.