Erosion House
Scenario design for a small retreat positioned on the eroding river bank of the Betsiboka river
Eroding coast line at Chilling cliff, Brownwich
The ‘bleeding mouth’ of the Betsiboka river in Madagascar. Due to extensive logging of coastal mangroves and rainforests, the northwestern coast of Madagascar is victim of extreme erosion. Heavy rains wash the red soil from the hillsides into streams and rivers that ‘bleed’ into the blue ocean and form numerous sandbars.
A small cabin on a platform. The cabin is the minimum space to house one person. It is also the safety area in case of extreme floods. An outdoor pavilion expands the small cabin space. It consists of a semi-translucent white canvas of soft cotton, stretched over a thin steel frame. The spatial relation between the cabin and the pavilion changes over time in accordance with the erosion rates. Both structures are positioned on a platform that is lifted by two pillars. The height of the pillars allow heavy floods to stream underneath the cabin.
Phase 1: The pavilion is positioned behind the cabin. In this setup the cabin functions as a gate or place of arrival which leads to the pavilion.
Phase 2: When water and sediment stream downwards from the hills the pavilion is slightly pushed forward along the slit in the platform. Consequently the cabin space is positioned at the core of the pavilion, generating a space in a space.
Phase 3: Continuous pressure of the water pushes the pavilion further on the slit. The cabin now touches the backside of the pavilion and makes any further movement of the pavilion impossible.
Phase 4: When the pressure increases, the cotton canvas of the pavilion rips apart. The pavilion now moves forward again, leaving the cabin behind on its trail.
Phase 5: At this point, the pavilion has fallen of the platform in the river. The cabin is now the only save place of retreat for the inhabitant.
