Floatable Constructions

Abstract

A plurality of floatable constructions are provided, the constructions including a floating base for a building, the base having at least one buoyant basement unit defining a basement level, and a reinforced concrete transfer platform atop the basement unit. The basement level can provide habitable or functional space for the building, and the transfer platform has at least one access opening giving access to the basement level which is enhanced by windows for light and ventilation. Methods and means of tying modular components of the structures together, and materials suitable for manufacturing such ties, are also provided.

1 . A construction for supporting a building, comprising:
 a pit excavated below ground level;   a buoyant basement unit within the pit, comprising an upper load-bearing surface for supporting a building; and   guide means for substantially preventing lateral movement of the basement unit and allowing vertical movement of the basement unit,   wherein:   the pit is larger in plan view than the basement unit so that when the basement unit is not floating a recess surrounds the basement unit within the pit; and   the construction comprises an external floor extending substantially across the recess.   
     
     
         2 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein the external floor is formed integrally with the basement unit. 
     
     
         3 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein when the basement unit is not floating the external floor is flush with ground level. 
     
     
         4 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein when the basement unit is not floating the gap between the external floor and the edge of the pit is not more than 75 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The construction of  claim 4 , wherein a grill extends across the gap. 
     
     
         6 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein the external floor comprises a buoyant material encased in concrete. 
     
     
         7 . The construction of  claim 6 , wherein the buoyant material is polystyrene. 
     
     
         8 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein the external floor forms a walkway surrounding a majority of the basement unit. 
     
     
         9 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein the buoyant basement unit provides at least one habitable room. 
     
     
         10 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein the basement unit extends above the external floor. 
     
     
         11 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein the basement unit has windows above the external floor for light and/or ventilation. 
     
     
         12 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein the basement unit is formed from fibre reinforced concrete. 
     
     
         13 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein the basement unit comprises outer walls and a floor, which together with the upper load-bearing surface form a continuous structure. 
     
     
         14 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein the basement unit further comprises internal walls forming therein a plurality of habitable rooms. 
     
     
         15 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the basement unit comprises outer walls and a floor; and   the upper load-bearing surface comprises a transfer platform supported by the outer walls.   
     
     
         16 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein the upper load-bearing surface comprises reinforced concrete encapsulating an array of voids. 
     
     
         17 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein the upper load-bearing surface is fire resistant. 
     
     
         18 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein the pit is supported by a plurality of sheet piles. 
     
     
         19 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein the pit is supported by walls formed of a plurality of bricks. 
     
     
         20 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein the floor of the pit is formed of concrete. 
     
     
         21 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein the guide means comprise piles extending into the floor of the pit and sliders or rollers fixed to the basement unit. 
     
     
         22 . The construction of  claim 21 , wherein the piles are hollow and act as a conduit for heat extracted from the ground. 
     
     
         23 . The construction of  claim 1 , further comprising on the upper load-bearing surface a building having a plurality of rooms. 
     
     
         24 . The construction of  claim 1 , further comprising a bridge arranged to movably extend from the ground to the building or the external floor over a range of heights of the basement unit. 
     
     
         25 . The construction of  claim 1 , further comprising a barrier extending downwardly from the distal edge of the external floor, the barrier arranged to allow the passage of water therethrough. 
     
     
         26 . A method of providing a construction that can float, comprising the steps of:
 excavating a pit below ground level;   locating a buoyant basement unit within the pit;   providing guide means to substantially prevent lateral movement of the basement unit; and   providing an external floor extending substantially across the recess,   wherein the pit is larger in plan view than the basement unit so that when the basement unit is not floating a recess surrounds the basement unit within the pit.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the external floor is formed integrally with the basement unit. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein when the basement unit is not floating the external floor is flush with ground level. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein when the basement unit is not floating the gap between the external floor and the edge of the pit is not more than 75 mm. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising providing a grill extending across the gap. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising encasing a buoyant material in concrete to form the external floor. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the buoyant material is polystyrene. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the external floor forms a walkway surrounding a majority of the basement unit. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the buoyant basement unit provides at least one habitable room. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the basement unit extends above the external floor. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the basement unit has windows above the external floor for light and/or ventilation. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising forming the basement unit from fibre reinforced concrete. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the basement unit comprises outer walls and a floor, which together with the upper load-bearing surface form a continuous structure. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the basement unit further comprises internal walls forming therein a plurality of habitable rooms. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the basement unit comprises outer walls and a floor and the method further comprises supporting a transfer platform upon the outer walls.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the upper load-bearing surface comprises reinforced concrete encapsulating an array of voids. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the upper load-bearing surface is fire resistant. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising providing a plurality of sheet piles to support the walls of the pit. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising providing a plurality of bricks to support the walls of the pit. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising forming a layer of concrete to provide the floor of the pit. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the guide means comprise piles extending into the floor of the pit and sliders or rollers fixed to the basement unit. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the piles are hollow and act as a conduit for heat extracted from the ground. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the basement unit comprises an upper load-bearing surface on which a building having a plurality of rooms is provided. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising providing a bridge arranged to movably extend from the ground to the building or the external floor over a range of heights of the basement unit. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising providing a barrier extending downwardly from the distal edge of the external floor, the barrier arranged to allow the passage of water therethrough. 
     
     
         51 . A construction for supporting a structure, comprising:
 a pit excavated below ground level;   a buoyant basement unit within the pit, comprising an upper load-bearing surface for supporting a structure,   wherein:   the basement unit is arranged to move between a non-floating position in which the basement unit is supported by a floor of the pit, and a floating position in which the basement unit is supported by a threshold amount of water within the pit.   
     
     
         52 . The construction of  claim 51 , wherein the threshold amount of water is less than an amount of water required to fill the pit.