We were first prize winners of this RIBA international competition with insurer Norwich Union to create a prototype flood-proof house for the Thames Gateway.

In reading the remarkable stories of those living through floods from across the country, it became immediately apparent that the design for a flood proof house would have to work a lot harder than simply providing durable finishes at flood level. Articles from the BBC describe accounts of elderly people not wishing to leave the familiarity of their home, of people stranded alone for days, and of the simple frustration of not being able to take their dog for a walk. The house, therefore, in addition to protecting its occupants from the dangers of flooding, would also have to cater to occupants’ individual needs to minimise disruption.