Buoyant Foundation Retrofit of the Farnsworth House

Animation / 2016 / (1:33)

This animation showcases a proposed amphibious foundation designed to protect architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House in Illinois from the flooding of the adjacent Fox River. The below-grade system allows the house to rise with floodwaters and return to its original position as water recedes, without altering the home's modern appearance. The concrete pylons are replaced with sliding vertical guidance posts connected to a steel subframe and buoyancy matrix to restrict lateral movement while lifting the structure above floodwaters. This strategy operates passively and offers a visually seamless alternative to other costly restorations.