Floating House Design for Flood Areas

In 2018, Kerala, India, faced one of its worst floods, and since then, many low-lying areas like Kuttanadu continue to suffer seasonal flooding almost every year. Witnessing this repeated devastation, I felt the need to design a survival-ready floating house that could help people live safely during such disasters.

This house is built using durable materials like steel, waterproof cement walls, and marine flooring. It also features a compost toilet, making it usable even when plumbing lines are affected. The house floats on floodwater using sealed drums placed underneath, keeping the entire structure above water level.

For stable electricity during emergencies, the design includes both solar panels and a backup generator.

This floating house offers an affordable and practical shelter option in flood-prone regions, combining survival, sustainability, and dignity.

I created this entire model as a student, and it was my first time using Revit. I learned everything step by step while designing this house, and it has been a meaningful learning experience for me.

I used the following tools to design my floating house:

1. Laptop – A Ryzen 5 with 8GB RAM, suitable for running design software.
2. Fusion 360 – Used to model the floating drums and vertical support poles.
3. Revit – Used to design the complete floating house, including rooms, furniture, and the compost toilet.

Before starting the design, I took some time to understand how floods impact people—especially looking into the 2018 Kerala floods. Areas like Kuttanadu face flooding almost every year, so I wanted to create something that could really help in such conditions.

I also researched how other countries deal with similar problems. I saw floating houses in Bangladesh, stilt homes in Southeast Asia, and modern floating designs from the Netherlands. This gave me inspiration on both traditional and advanced solutions.

I explored what materials would work best in wet conditions—like marine flooring, waterproof cement, and sealed plastic drums that help the house float.

Another key challenge was thinking about how people could manage without plumbing or electricity during floods. That’s where the idea of compost toilets and solar panels came in.

To make the design even more useful, I spoke to some of my friends who have experienced floods themselves. They shared the real problems they faced, and I used their input to improve the design.

I focused my design on places like Kuttanadu, one of the most flood-prone areas in Kerala. It floods almost every monsoon, and people there live with constant risk to their homes and basic needs. That’s why I chose this area as the ideal place to apply my floating house idea, a solution that could bring safety, comfort, and dignity during floods.

To start building the floating house model in Revit, I first changed the unit to millimeters. I did this by going to the Manage tab, clicking on Project Units, and setting the length unit to mm.

Then I selected the Wall tool from the Architecture tab. I clicked Edit Type, duplicated the wall type, and went into Edit Structure. Inside the structure editor, I clicked the small circle next to the material and opened the Material Browser.

There, I created a new material by clicking "Create New Material." I named it “Floating Wall – Cement + Steel Frame” and gave it a material code FW-CSF-2026. I didn’t add every individual layer in detail, but I made sure it included waterproof cement board and a steel frame. I set the total wall thickness to around 265 mm.

For the floor, I followed a similar process using the Floor tool. I created a new material called “Floating Marine Floor” and gave it a total thickness of 200 mm. In the Appearance tab, I selected a plywood texture so the floor would look like marine plywood in the 3D view.

This design helped me build a lightweight and water-resistant floating house that could safely rest on sealed drums during floods.

To help the floating house stay above water, I created a floating drum model using Fusion 360. These drums act like large plastic barrels filled with air. When placed under the house, they keep it floating during floods—just like how an empty bottle floats on water.

Here is exactly how I made the drum:

First, I opened Fusion 360 and started a new design.

I clicked on the top where it says create sketch.

A screen asked me to choose a plane. I clicked on the right-side plane to get a side view for drawing.

Then I selected the circle tool from the top sketch menu.

I clicked once to place the center point of the circle, then moved the mouse and clicked again to finish the shape.

I typed 600 and pressed Enter to make the drum 600 millimeters wide.

Now the shape was ready to turn into 3D.

I clicked finish sketch from the top right.

Then I selected the extrude tool from the top menu.

I clicked on the circle I just drew and pulled it to the right side. I typed 900 and pressed Enter.

This created a cylinder that looks like the main body of a drum.

To make it look more realistic, I added a cap on top.

I clicked on create sketch again and selected the top face of the cylinder.

I used the circle tool to draw a smaller circle in the center, about 100 millimeters wide.

Then I clicked extrude again and pulled the small circle upward by 50 millimeters.

Now the drum had a small cap, just like a real barrel.

To use this model in Revit, I had to export it.

I clicked on file at the top left corner, then clicked export.

I changed the file type to .sat format so Revit could read it.

I saved the file as drum.sat.

Now my drum model was complete. I could import it into Revit and place many copies under the house floor to help it float safely in floodwater.

In real life, floating houses in countries like Bangladesh and Cambodia use similar plastic barrels under their homes. These barrels are sealed, durable, and affordable. They allow homes to rise and fall naturally with floodwater. Some of these homes have stayed afloat for over 15 years using just this method. This inspired me to design my own version using Fusion 360 and Revit.

To stop the floating house from drifting during floods or strong winds, I designed a support pole using Fusion 360. These poles act like anchors. They hold the house in one place by going deep into the ground or riverbed.

Here is how I made the pole:

I opened Fusion 360 and started a new design.

I clicked on create sketch from the top menu.

It asked me to choose a plane. I selected the front plane, which lets me draw standing upright.

I clicked the circle tool from the top toolbar.

I clicked once to place the center of the circle, then moved my mouse and clicked again to draw it.

I typed 300 and pressed enter. This created a circle with a diameter of 300 millimeters. This is the thickness of the pole.

Next, I clicked finish sketch from the top.

Then I clicked on the extrude tool.

I clicked on the circle and pulled it upward. I typed 4000 and pressed enter. This made the pole 4000 millimeters tall (or 4 meters), which is enough to reach from the platform down to the ground or waterbed.

Now the pole shape was ready.

To use the pole in Revit, I exported it:

I clicked on file in the top left corner.

Then I clicked on export.

In the export window, I selected .sat as the file type.

I saved the file with the name pole.sat.

Now my support pole was ready. I imported it into Revit and placed four or more poles around the floating platform. These poles help keep the house stable during storms and stop it from floating away.

In my floating house design, I needed a toilet that works without plumbing or underground drainage, so I created a compost toilet using Revit. First, I opened the Revit model and placed a regular toilet from the component library. I clicked on the toilet, right-clicked, and selected "Edit In-Place" so I could change its shape. Then I clicked on the bottom part of the toilet and pressed Delete to remove the base that normally connects to plumbing. Next, I created a compost tank by going to the Create tab at the top and clicking on the Extrusion tool. I drew a rectangle under the toilet seat using the rectangle sketch tool, then clicked the green checkmark to finish. A blue arrow appeared, and I clicked and pulled the arrow downward. I typed 500 for the height and pressed Enter to make a box under the seat. This box represents the compost chamber. I didn’t measure the size exactly because this is just a concept model. I renamed the object to compost toilet and placed it on the first floor of the floating house. Everything stays above the platform because there’s no need to go below. The compost toilet works without water. Waste drops into the sealed box below, where dry materials like sawdust or coconut fiber can be added to absorb moisture and stop smell. Inside the box, natural bacteria break down the waste slowly and safely into compost, similar to how leaves turn into soil. The tank can be emptied every few weeks or months, depending on use. This kind of toilet is eco-friendly, simple, and perfect for floating homes or flood-prone areas where regular toilets won’t work.

To start shaping the house, I opened Revit and used the Wall tool to draw the basic structure.

The house is about 6 meters by 10 meters in size. I planned a simple layout with two bedrooms, one bathroom, a living and guest room combined, and a small dining space.

I drew each wall one by one to match the shape I had in mind. Once the walls were in place, I added doors to connect all the rooms inside. For the main entrance, I placed a double door at the front so it would look more welcoming. Inside, I used normal single doors for each room.

At this stage, I didn’t place any furniture yet, not even the compost toilet. That part came later when I worked on the interior setup.

It’s honestly a little tricky to explain every click in words, so I recommend watching the video where I show exactly how I made the walls and added the doors step by step.

Once the walls and doors were complete, I moved on to placing the floor, adding furniture, designing the compost toilet, and finally building the roof.

To start, I used the Floor tool in Revit and traced the shape of the house layout. I selected my custom material called Floating Marine Floor, which I had created earlier. This material is based on marine plywood with a steel frame below it. It forms a strong, lightweight base for the floating house, even though I didn’t add waterproof appearance settings at this stage.

Next, I added furniture. I placed beds inside both bedrooms, a sofa in the living area, and a table with chairs in the dining space. This helped me visualize how the interior could feel for someone living there.

For the compost toilet, I inserted a basic toilet model from the Revit component list. I clicked “Edit In-Place” to change it. I deleted the lower plumbing part, then used the extrusion tool to create a rectangle just below the seat — but not going below the floor. I pulled the box downward only within the bathroom space. This way, the compost chamber is still visible and accessible above the floating platform.

Compost toilets work by letting waste fall into a sealed box. Natural bacteria break it down over time. Dry material like sawdust or coconut husk can be added to prevent smell and help the composting process. This kind of toilet is simple, eco-friendly, and perfect for places without drainage systems.

Finally, I added a flat roof using the Roof tool. I traced the outer walls and placed a flat roof on top to complete the structure.

You can watch my video for Step 7 to see how I did all of this step by step.

To make sure the floating house can function even during long power cuts caused by floods, I added both solar panels and a backup generator.

First, I placed a solar panel on top of the flat roof. I used the component tool in Revit and positioned the panel in a spot where it would get maximum sunlight. This helps generate electricity during the day to power essential things like lights, fans, or phone chargers.

Next, I created a small room at the back of the house to store the generator. I used the wall tool to build a tiny box-shaped space with its own small roof. I made sure it was outside the main house so that it's easy to access for maintenance or fuel refilling.

Then I placed a simple generator model inside that room. This generator acts as a backup power source in case solar energy isn’t enough, especially during cloudy days or at night.

With both the solar panel and generator included, the house can provide basic electricity during emergencies without relying on outside help.

If you'd like to see exactly how I added these in Revit, I recommend watching my video for this step. It shows the full process more clearly.

After finishing the structure of the floating house, I added the parts that help it stay above water and remain steady during floods. These include the floating drums, vertical support poles, and short legs under the platform. I also built a small generator shed with extra support.

I started by importing the floating drum model I had made earlier in Fusion 360. I clicked on the Insert tab at the top of the Revit window and selected Import CAD. I chose the file format as .sat and selected the drum.sat file I exported before. After importing, I placed the first drum below one corner of the house platform. Then I used Ctrl C and Ctrl V to copy and paste it quickly.

I arranged the drums in a grid pattern under the platform. I placed 11 drums in each row and 11 drums in each column, so the total number of floating drums under the house is 121. Each drum is a sealed plastic barrel filled with air and designed to help the structure float during floods.

Next, I imported the support pole model in the same way. These poles are made of galvanized steel and are 300 millimeters wide and 4000 millimeters tall. I placed one at each corner of the house and added more if needed. These poles go deep into the ground and keep the house from drifting away in water or strong wind.

Then I created short support legs under the center of the platform. These legs are also made from galvanized steel and are 300 millimeters wide and 900 millimeters tall. I placed them between the floating drums, especially in the center area, to give extra balance when there’s no floodwater. They only touch the ground when water is low or absent.

For the generator shed at the back of the house, I added a small room using the Wall tool. I placed five rows and four columns of floating drums underneath this shed, giving it extra support. The shed holds a basic generator and has its own small roof. The number of drums under it is enough to handle the weight of a regular household generator and the walls.

To know if the house can actually float in real life, I calculated the total weight. The house is about 6 meters by 10 meters, so it has an area of 60 square meters. I estimated the weight of the floor, walls, roof, furniture, compost toilet, and solar panels. The total weight of the house comes out to be around 9000 kilograms, or 9 tons.

Each sealed plastic drum can support about 254 kilograms. So 121 drums can hold around 30,700 kilograms, which is over 30 tons. This means the floating system I used can easily carry the house weight with a strong safety margin.

Since I placed more than 100 drums, the floating system is very stable. The weight of the house is much lower than the lifting power of all the drums combined. The house is unlikely to sink, and it has space to handle extra weight like people, water tanks, or stored items.

This setup also reduces the chance of cracking or damage. Because the load is distributed evenly across all the drums, the stress on the platform is balanced. If built properly using steel framing and waterproof materials, the house should remain strong and safe even during floods.

After completing all the parts of my floating house, I combined everything in Revit to build the final design. This included the walls, floor, roof, compost toilet, solar panel, support poles, and floating drums. I also added furniture in the bedrooms, living room, and kitchen to make the house look more real and ready to use.

The layout includes two bedrooms, one bathroom, a dining area, and a guest living room. Inside the bathroom, I placed a compost toilet, a washbasin, and a bathtub. These features make the house more comfortable and usable, even during floods when regular plumbing might not work.

To make the house float, I placed sealed plastic drums under the floor. Around the house, I added support poles to keep it stable and prevent it from drifting in floodwater. On the roof, I installed a solar panel to provide power. At the back of the house, I created a small room to hold a generator as a backup energy source.

I also recorded a walkthrough video showing how the house looks from inside . The video may not be high resolution, but it shows the basic structure, layout, and design clearly. I didn’t include a full walkthrough of the generator room in the video, but it is included in the design and is placed at the back of the house to help during power cuts.

To understand if this floating house idea can work in the real world, I calculated the cost based on the materials and methods I used. The total cost to build one unit could be between ₹2.3 lakh to ₹3.6 lakh depending on what materials are used. Steel framing, marine flooring, waterproof walls, solar panels, and sealed drums make it strong and flood-ready, but also add to the cost.

However, many people in low-income, flood-prone villages in Kerala or similar regions may not be able to pay this amount easily. That’s why the design can be scaled down or built in phases. If families start with only a platform, one room, and a compost toilet, the cost would be much lower. They can add more parts later when they are able.

This makes the design flexible and realistic. Even if the full version seems costly, it gives space for affordable, smaller steps. It can also become cheaper when supported by local labor, recycled materials, or public support.

The full design of this floating house costs around ₹2.3 to ₹3.6 lakh, but I understand that many poor families in flood-hit villages of Kerala or other parts of India may not be able to afford that amount. So I explored how this house can still become affordable with the right support.

Governments or NGOs can help by funding key parts like solar panels, compost toilets, or steel materials through flood relief or housing programs. If many of these homes are built in the same area, material costs can drop through bulk buying. Shared labor by the local community can also lower the price.

I also thought about replacing some costly items with local alternatives. For example, bamboo poles can be used instead of steel. Bamboo is a strong natural material and is already used in building structures in many countries. If treated properly to prevent rotting, bamboo poles can support the house platform in shallow water or in areas with gentle flood movement. Using bamboo lowers costs and makes the design more eco-friendly. However, for stronger storms or deeper water, steel poles are still a better and safer option.

Recycled drums or plastic sheets can also be used to reduce material costs. Recycled materials are not only cheaper but more sustainable too.

Families can also build in phases. The first step can be a platform and a single room. Other parts like extra rooms or furniture can be added over time. This helps families start with less money and grow their house when they are ready.

Support from small loans, donations, or disaster relief programs can also make a big difference. The goal is not just to build something functional, but something that protects people and gives them a sense of dignity even during hard times.

This floating house is not just a concept. With the right support and simple materials, even people in the most flood-prone communities can dream of living safely above the water.

While building my project, I first placed the floating house directly on sealed plastic drums. This worked well in the model, but after researching how real floating houses in countries like Bangladesh and Cambodia are built, I found a better method to improve stability.

In those designs, the house usually rests on short legs when there is no water. The floating drums are positioned slightly lower, so they only start working when the floodwater rises. This reduces stress on the drums and helps the house stay stable in both dry and wet conditions.

So, I applied the same idea in my design.

I created short support legs using galvanized steel, which is strong and rust-resistant. Each leg is 300 millimeters wide and 900 millimeters tall. I placed them in a grid pattern under the center of the house, between the floating drums. These legs lift the house slightly above ground level. When the flood comes, water lifts the drums, and the house floats gently.

This structure gives better balance and protects the floating system for long-term use. Even without floodwater, the house stays steady, and during floods, it floats safely above the water.

By learning from real-world designs and applying them to my model, I was able to make the floating system more realistic, practical, and ready for real-life situations.

Designing this floating house has been a personal journey. It started with a simple idea after seeing how floods have affected families in the low-lying regions of Kerala. I wanted to create something that could truly help people during future disasters and give them a safe place to live with dignity.

This was my very first time using Revit, and I learned everything step by step while building this house digitally. It was sometimes challenging, but also very exciting. I also used Fusion 360 to create parts like the floating drum and support poles. These tools helped me bring my ideas into a real 3D design.

Every feature in this house was added with care. The sealed drums keep it floating, the compost toilet works without plumbing, and the solar panels make sure there’s electricity even during a flood. I also added a generator room for extra backup, so families feel more secure.

More than just a design, this floating house is a symbol of hope. It shows how we can use simple materials and design tools to solve big problems. With support from the community, engineers, and relief programs, I believe this idea can one day be built in real life to help those who need it most.

Thank you so much for viewing my project. I welcome your thoughts, suggestions, and any help to take this idea further. Together, we can build a better future where homes stay safe even when the waters rise.

This project was created entirely by me as a student learning architectural design. It was my first time using Autodesk Revit and Fusion 360, and I learned everything step by step.

Special thanks to:

Autodesk Revit 2026 – for helping me design the full floating house, layout, and compost toilet structure.

Fusion 360 – for modeling the floating drum and support poles in 3D.

BIMObject – for providing the generator model and other real-world components I used in my design.

My friends and classmates – who gave feedback and shared their own experiences with floods, which helped shape the project.

Finally, this project is dedicated to the people living in flood-prone regions like Kerala, whose strength and challenges inspired me to design something safe, affordable, and practical.