Elizabeth
English,
Associate
Professor
of
Architecture
at
the
University
of
Waterloo,
has
been
awarded
top
prize
in
the
"Sustainable
Products"
category
of
the
Architecture
MasterPrize
Product
Design
Award.
From
their
website,
"The
Architecture
MasterPrize
Architectural
Product
Design
Award
recognizes
and
rewards
the
greatest
architectural
product
designers
and
manufacturers
alongside
those
achieving
excellence
in
architectural
projects
and
practice.
It
seeks
to
celebrate
the
ingenuity
of
products
and
materials
that
make
great
architecture
possible,
and
shine
a
light
on
those
who
create
well-made,
functional,
long
lasting,
beautiful
and
innovative
products."
Dr.
English's
Buoyant
Foundation
Project
has
developed
a
low-cost
flood
risk
reduction
and
climate
change
adaptation
retrofit
strategy
for
buildings
to
foster
sustainable
and
resilient
communities.
The
product
is
composed
of
recycled
buoyancy
elements
and
other
locally
available,
cost-effective
components.
The
retrofitted
homes
float
passively
during
flooding
while
remaining
grounded
under
ordinary
conditions.
This
allows
households
to
remain
safely
in
place
during
floods,
without
damage.
The
earth-friendly
approach
works
in
synchrony
with
natural
flood
cycles,
rather
than
trying
to
control
the
forces
of
nature.
Further information can be found on the Architecture MasterPrize site.