Skip to main content

Filipina architect is trying to build homes that can rise above floods


In countries already familiar with the problems caused by flooding, the concept of floating homes is nothing new. But what if houses in coastal and low-lying areas could levitate to save themselves? That's the question on the lips of Lira Luis, who thought up the concept of a levitating house after working with magnets on another installation that was located on water. The multi-awarded Filipino architect realized that even through a layer of water, the magnets still repel each other when held the wrong way.

Lira's goal is to create a model version of the system in a Filipino community where flooding is already a serious problem. Currently she has a 13-ounce prototype built that levitates 1.5 inches, but she plans to showcase a slightly bigger version next month, according to Fast Co.Exist.



The idea is a bit insane, and there's a very good chance that it may not work. Martin Simmons, a physics researcher at UCLA says that not only would it be very expensive, but there are also "a million other problems." But who knows, maybe one day Lira's idea would be feasible. The distance between dream and reality is called action.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Press Play Again

You know that feeling when you stumble upon an old movie you haven't seen in years? It's like finding a dusty photo album and flipping through the pages, only instead of bad hairstyles, you're greeted with hideous special effects and awful dialogue. Also, the dramatic tension I remembered as nail-biting was now… well, a little slow-paced. But the truly entertaining part of rewatching a movie is that you notice things you never did before. For example, in Midnight Cowboy , I didn't know that the guy who gave Joe Buck (Jon Voight) a blow job was played by Bob Balaban, who later became known for his role as Russell Dalrymple, the fictional president of NBC in Seinfeld . Released in 1969, Midnight Cowboy is a raw, sometimes uncomfortable, often heartbreaking, but ultimately deeply human. And seriously, the chemistry between Ratso Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman) and Buck is pure gold. Rewatching a movie is like visiting an old friend. You know their idiosyncrasies, their stories, bu...

These ladies brought the chill.

The Philippines just bagged the gold medal at the recent International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Women's Asia Cup in UAE. Yes, you read that right. Ice hockey. Champions. But let me tell you, what we lacked in natural frozen water, we more than made up for in heart, hustle, and teamwork. The ladies had a perfect tournament in Al Ain with victories against Kyrgyzstan (15-0), UAE (6-1), Malaysia (8-1) and India (4-1) before beating Iran  (4-2) for the gold. They proved that you don't need snow to conquer the ice. You just need talent, determination, and maybe a little bit of that Pinoy magic that allows us to thrive in the most unexpected situations. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to find the nearest halo-halo vendor to celebrate.

The Chameleon

Damon Albarn is a genius. He constantly reinvents himself, pushes his boundaries, and challenges his listeners. From the raw energy of Blur to the diverse soundscapes of Gorillaz, his solo work, and his collaborations with other artists, Damon has proven himself to be one of the most talented and unpredictable musicians alive.