House in a Flood Plain

2018

After the owners’ house flooded twice in three years they decided to start anew. The main living areas of the new house are elevated two feet above the 500-year flood levels, while the garage is required to be at grade. This naturally makes the house a split level, a fitting type considering the neighborhood is composed of 1950s ranch houses. Alvar Aalto’s Maison Carré (1959) with is broad, sloping roof was the starting point for the design. We got the permit and were ready to start construction but the bank refused to approve the construction loan. The reason? The house was too small compared to its new neighbors!