RS1: The Lithium Triangle
Zhao Liu
Before taking the MA Environmental Architecture at Royal College of Art, he received a Bachelor of Fashion Design from Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China. During the undergraduate degree, he studied fashion design and interior design at the same time, which made him get interested in interdisciplinary work. He has tried many times to integrate architectural elements into his fashion design projects, including the special perception, the structures and the materials. His fashion design project which was inspired by the Sagrada Familia participated in the “National College Joint Exhibition” in 2018 and won the first prize of the fashion design group.
After graduating, He took a short-term course of architecture design. At this stage, his works mainly focused on the relationship between architecture and the natural environment. Two of the main projects researched how to position architectures both in the polar region and desert, as well as how architectures can balance the survivals between human and natural environment.
When taking the MA Environmental Architecture at Royal College of Art, he joined the Lithium Triangle Studio and had a chance to understand the actual conflicts between natural environments, indigenous people and mining companies in Chile Atacama Desert. The most important conflict between them is water resources. It is reflected in many ways, including water extraction and pollution from mining activities, water rights, flooding issues, etc. He was responsible for the design strategies around flood water protection and management of Tulor in Salar de Atacama Basin, Chile. During the research of the global management in flooding issues, he found that most methods show too much human intervention in flood water, which has changed the natural development trend of the water system and might have disrupted the natural balance.
In 2020, He planning to develop a potential residential mode or living method that can protect people from floods, which also can maintain the natural development of the environment by reducing human intervention in flooding.
New Houseboat Collage
Although there are a lot of cases and design concepts about the houseboat or floating house, most of them pay more attention to people who have a mid or high level of income. My project prefers the poorer people or someone has a lower priority. In my opinion, the problems that these people face to some extent can reflect or determine the shortcomings of the entire social development of humans. If human society is regarded as architecture, they are the foundations of it.
Traditional Tanka Houseboat
Changes of Tanka Population in Wuzhou City
Map of Wuzhou City and Zhengyang Community
Changzhou Water Control Project
Flood Situations of Zhengyang Community Before 2010
Flood Situations of Zhengyang Community After 2010
Current Floods Impacts of Zhengyang Community
Terrain and Land use View of Zhengyang Community
Before 1949, when New China was established, the population of Tanka people in Wuzhou city experienced several big changes. The main reason is the continuous shift of territory and migration. After 1949, Because of the rapid economic development and urbanisation, Tanka people gradually moved to land. By 2006, all the Tanka people had left their houseboats and built their own communities on land.
The local government paid more attention and resources to the construction of urban areas and the development of river management. The infrastructures of Tanka communities are ignored, which caused the property and personal safety of residents to be seriously affected by floods. The Zhengyang community is one of the Tanka communities located on the edge of the urban area. It has even become a victim of urban development.
In order to reduce the impacts of floods and improve the management of river resources, the local government completed the construction of Changzhou Water Control Project in 2010. The major function is to intercept the floods to protect the urban area. But it caused the water level to rise in the upper stream, where the Zhengyang community is located.
Before 2010, because of the high terrain, this community rarely had flood issues. The water level was usually 13 metres, and during flood season from May to August it reached 17 metres. Currently, the water level is usually 19 metres, and during flood season it reaches 26 metres on average. The total population of the community is 1,500 and there are about 225 people who live in the flood region.
I analysed their existing social structures and land-use situations to understand the potential needs for new houseboat residents. Most of the people living in the community are older than 45, and they mainly work in fisheries and agriculture. But the local government has forbidden all fishing activities in this region, with agriculture becoming the main economic source for local people.
River Planning of Zhengyang Community
Top View of New Houseboat
Top View of New Houseboat Group
The new houseboat consists of the living area, the hydroponic area and the floating bridge served as the access and working platform for residents. All new houseboats are divided into 8 groups and distributed along the shoreline. There is a waterway network to connect each group of new houseboats. Every two groups will be managed by a shore station which mainly has 3 functions, first is the delivery of necessary resources like fresh water and food, second is the waste collection from the new houseboat and third is the regular inspections and maintenance. Each group formed by 10 new houseboats and they are linked by floating bridges. The waterway is 30 meters wide to ensure the smooth traffic, especially in an emergency.
Structures of Living Area
Plan Drawings of First Floor
Plan Drawings of Ground Floor
Hydroponic Area
The three walls are the main supporting structures that make sure the stable of the new houseboat. Two of them on the sides are used to build the water pipes and wires network. Under the ground floor is an equipment compartment, the water tanks and battery are located in there. The compartment and pontoon together serve as the foundation of the new houseboat.
The first floor is the home of residents. Its layout should be as simple as possible, and each room should be big enough for people who may be using a wheelchair to move around. So, I provide three types of layout for them, which can meet their needs as much as possible. And the ground floor serves as a multifunctional space. Flexibility is the key point for the ground floor to adapt to different types of uses. So, the middle wall is divided into 5 sections and moved along the 3 tracks respectively.
I provide three types of layout as an example. Type A is a completely open space, it could be a small playground or a temporary market. Type B is more closed which could be used for shops, clinics and restaurants. Type C is completely closed, it could be a temporary residence or private storage.
The hydroponic area is important for new houseboats, its value reflected in many aspects, including the guarantee of the resident’s life, the improvement of the economy and the purification of rivers. Paddy rice is a major crop in Wuzhou city, accounting over 50% of the total agricultural income. So, it will also be the main crop in the hydroponic area. The floating board as the cultivation tool, each of them are 1 metre long on four sides and the paddy rice set on the board should keep 15 centimetres distance from each other in order to get enough sunlight and nutrients. The paddy rice will be saved into the ground floor spaces which are used as storage and delivered by shore station to sell regularly.
Energy and Water System
Anchoring System
The water system. There are three types of water in the new houseboat. The freshwater and wastewater will be saved in different tanks and delivered by shore station regularly. And the rainwater can be collected and cycled in the new houseboat by two tanks, one used to collect and purify the rainwater and another used to save the re-use water.
The anchoring system. In order to prevent the new houseboat moving a lot when water level changes, I use an anchor structure that can automatically up and down. The anchor will be fixed on the riverbed and the rope passes through the pulley on the top of the anchor to connect the new houseboat and the floating ball. When water level changes the floating ball will go down to keep the balance.