Nicaragua: Casa Anfibia
Casa Anfibia
Casa Anfibia is an amphibious housing design proposal for the riverine community of Malacatoya that would allow residents to remain in their homes during and after flooding events. The amphibiation of homes in this region could be a viable strategy to break out of the repetitive cycle of relocation and rebuilding that currently plague the lives of many in this community.
The design features renewable and recycled materials, is highly transferable to different contexts, and provides an affordable, flood-protected living spaces for the residents, along with a surrounding deck for their poultry and livestock. Resettlement efforts
instituted by NGO’s and the Nicaraguan government have not succeeded; environmental
refugees have a high rate of return, often to substandard living conditions. The proposed adaptation strategy allows this population to remain on their land of origin.
The design utilizes recycled plastic barrels for buoyancy due to their widespread availability and low cost. Bamboo is used to construct the house itself, as it combines low weight with a carbon footprint that is 35% lower than concrete blocks. It is also a local renewable resource that can be regrown quickly, reducing deforestation.
