Project Description

1. Design Intent and Context "THE AMPHIBIOUS ANCHOR" is a 10m³ responsive micro-habitat designed to address the challenges of high-density urban living and seasonal flood risks in Dhaka. By embracing the "Future Resilience" lens, the project functions as a self-sustaining, portable module that can navigate both dry urban voids and waterlogged terrains. It is a strategic response to the climate crisis, providing a dignified and autonomous lifestyle within a minimal spatial footprint.

2. Spatial Strategy and Volume Logic The design maximizes the 10-meter cubic volume through a clear vertical bifurcation:

•The Technical Base (Bottom 2’): This 2-foot zone houses a mobility and flotation system consisting of off-road tires and blue plastic barrels for buoyancy. It acts as the anchor during floods, allowing the unit to float without compromising stability.

•The Habitable Cell (Upper 6’): The main room is a (4' × 7'–11") functional space designed for efficient occupancy. A 9-inch rear setback is utilized for external services, maximizing the internal usable area while staying strictly within the volume limit.

3. Environmental and Technical Systems Sustainability is embedded in every surface of the pod. Bamboo louvers are used as a primary skin to filter light and facilitate natural ventilation. The design utilizes a stack-effect cooling system, where cool air enters through floor gratings and circulates through the interior, while hot air escapes through the top. On the flat roof, tiltable solar panels provide a renewable power source, ensuring energy independence.

4. Resource Management and Sanitation The pod features an integrated rainwater harvesting system. Runoff from the roof is collected in a designated water reservoir and filtered for household chores and drinking. Surplus water is diverted to small-scale vegetation and green spaces attached to the structure, promoting urban biodiversity. For sanitation, a portable toilet module is included, offering a hygienic and compact solution that can be serviced independently of a city grid.

5. Interior Efficiency and User Experience The interior experience is defined by transformability. To maintain a spacious feel, we have implemented foldable and multifunctional furniture. The core space features both a foldable bed for resting and a foldable table for study or meals. This modular layout allows the user to reconfigure the space based on the time of day, proving that 10 cubic meter is not a limitation but an opportunity for innovative spatial intelligence.