Dutch float a new idea in housing

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 541.

Read the following text and give its short summary using phrases on page 47.

The Netherlands is to start building homes, businesses and even roads that float because of living space shortage and danger of flood.

With nearly a third of the country already covered with water and half of its land mass below sea level and constantly under threat from rising waters, the authorities believe floating communities may be the future.

Six prototype wooden and aluminum floating houses are already moored off Amsterdam, and at least a further 100 are planned on the same estate.

The fact is that after Bangladesh Denmark is the most densely populated country in the world. Building space is scarce and government studies show that there is a need to double the space available to meet all housing needs."

Before being placed on the water, the houses are constructed on land atop concrete pontoons, which encase giant lumps of polystyrene reinforced with steel. The pontoons are said to be unsinkable because they are anchored by underwater cables. The floating roads apply the same technology.

The concept is proving popular. The waiting list for such homes, which will cost $360,000 to $900,000 to buy, runs to 5000 names. “We expect to build between 50 and 200 floating homes a year. It was estimated that for every 100 homes built in the next few years, 3-4 per cent will be floating ones.”

The developers (проектировщики) have lodged an application to build a 40-home floating “mini-village” in Leeuwarden, about 160 kilometers north-west of Amsterdam, while the Government itself is building the country's first floating road.

Construction of the experimental stretch of road is a new concept. The authorities hope such roads can be built on reclaimed (мелиорированный) land. With much of the country given over to market gardening and the intensive cultivation of flowers and vegetables, planners have also come up with ideas for floating greenhouses designed so that the water beneath them irrigates (орошать) the plants and controls the temperature inside.

A pilot project covering 50 hectares of flooded land near Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport has been already planned.

The opportunities for innovative developers look promising. They have 10 projects in the pipeline (на подходе) - floating villages and cities complete with offices, shops and restaurants.

By Andrew Osborn “The Guardian”