The design of a floating classroom for schools located in flood and typhoon-prone areas in South East Asia
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Abstract
This graduation thesis comprises a feasibility study and design of a floating classroom which can offer students a safe learning environment in typhoon and flood-prone areas by designing a classroom which is typhoon resilient with a floating foundation. This research is a follow-up study to the Finch Floating Homes project. One month of field research has provided more insight into the local problems in the schools, climate, materials and wishes from the school. These insights in combination with a literature study on school design, typhoon resiliency and indoor comfort are the basic principles for the design. Additional parameters are set up by analyzing the Finch Floating Home and the Makoko floating school and the design principles of the Finch’s buildings. In the design framework, there is a design analysis in which the choices for the design are explained followed by a structural analysis in which the design is tested for its resistance to high wind speeds that can occur with a typhoon and for its buoyancy by using the calculation software Technosoft and Axisvm. Also, passive design strategies which are implemented in the design are explained to make the classroom indoor comfortable. The result is a design of a floating classroom that is able to offer the students a safe and comfortable learning environment which is ready to be built.