AU2023201784A1

AU2023201784A1 - A building that rises with flood waters

Info

Publication number: AU2023201784A1
Application number: AU2023201784A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Daniel Gileno
Original assignee: Gileno Lisa Mesiti
Current assignee: Gileno Lisa Mesiti
Priority date: 2022-03-28
Filing date: 2023-03-22
Publication date: 2023-10-12

Abstract

A building that rises with flood waters is disclosed comprising a building base for receiving a building thereon. The building base rises when a surrounding water level rises and falls when the surrounding water level subsides. The building includes an 5 anchoring arrangement for holding the building in position on the ground so that it does not move laterally or sideways across the ground when the water level rises, and a lifting and lowering arrangement extending between the anchoring arrangement and the building base. The lifting and lowering arrangement permits the building base to rise and fall whilst retaining the same horizontal position relative to the ground on which it is 10 mounted. The lifting and lowering arrangement may be positioned directly below the building base and is received within the perimeter of the building base and does not project out laterally beyond the building base. The building may further include a building superstructure mounted on the building base. 15 Figure 2 for publication 2/13 co It 0C C%4 cn CCNN

Description

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CCNN A BUILDING THAT RISES WITH FLOOD WATERS FIELD

This invention relates to a support for a building that rises with flood waters, and then subsides when the flood waters subside. It also extends to a building that rises and falls with flood waters and to a method of resisting inundation of a building in flood conditions.

DEFINITION

In this specification, the term 'comprising' is intended to denote the inclusion of a stated integer or integers, but not necessarily the exclusion of any other integer, depending on the context in which that term is used. This applies also to variants of that term such as 'comprise' or'comprises'.

BACKGROUND

In some regions of Australia, buildings including single family dwellings and houses are particularly prone to flooding. Many of these houses are built on low lying land near waterways and rivers. Consequently, when the rivers flood, these houses are prone to being inundated by flood waters and suffering flood damage. The problem has been exacerbated in recent years by climate change which has led to an increased ferocity of storms and rainfall events.

This pattern of flooding has occurred several times over the past 12 years and each time it occurs, it leads to widespread property damage of the type described above. In a typical scenario, water levels rise suddenly over a short space of time which leads to a flooding of houses. In high set houses having upper and lower levels (including dual level Queenslanders), at least the lower level is flooded. In addition to damage to the house, there is also often damage to household contents within the house. Very often, there is insufficient time to move the contents to higher ground or to transport the contents to a dry location.

Some efforts have been directed at sandbagging properties when flooding is imminent. However, this solution has its limitations. Further, in some locations, levees have been built to hold back the water from buildings and the like. However, this solution is extremely costly to build. Further, this solution takes years to implement even if the money to build the levee is available. It therefore also has significant limitations.

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The reference to prior art in the background above is not and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that the referenced prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or in any other country.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Applicant recognises that it would be very beneficial if a system or assembly could be devised that ameliorated at least to some extent some of the drawbacks identified above in the background section.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a support for a building that rises with flood waters, the building comprising: a building base for receiving a building thereon, wherein the building base rises when a surrounding water level rises and falls when the surrounding water level subsides; a lifting and lowering arrangement extending between an anchoring arrangement for holding the building in position on the ground, and the building base for permitting the building base to rise and fall whilst retaining the same horizontal position relative to the ground on which it is mounted.

The lifting and lowering arrangement may be positioned directly below the building base and be received within the perimeter of the building base and does not project out laterally beyond the building base.

The lifting and lowering arrangement may comprise at least one scissor frame having an operatively lower end operatively connected to the anchoring arrangement and an operatively upper end operatively connected to the building base.

Each scissor frame may comprise an upper sliding arrangement and a lower sliding arrangement, and wherein each sliding arrangement may permit its associated end to slide in one direction when the scissor frame rises, and in an opposite direction when the scissor frame falls.

The building base may be engineered to float on water, and may comprise a buoyancy layer providing appropriate buoyancy to enable the support to rise with a rising water level and a slab layer mounted on top of the buoyancy layer.

The buoyancy layer may comprise at least two buoyancy sections arranged side by side that are operatively fixed to each other by means of tensioning cables placed under

1) tension to pull the buoyancy sections tightly into engagement with each other.

The slab layer may be made of a cementitious material and forms a support surface on which the building superstructure can be built.

The support for a building according may further include a service conduiting arrangement for conduiting services from the ground up to the building base in a way that permits the services to rise and fall with the building base.

The support for a building may include any one or more of the features, or combination of features, of any other aspect of the invention.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a building that rises with flood waters, the building comprising: a building base on which a building can be built that rises when a surrounding water level rises and falls when the surrounding water level subsides; an anchoring arrangement for holding the building in position on the ground so that it does not move laterally or sideways across the ground when the water level rises; a lifting and lowering arrangement extending between the anchoring arrangement and the building base for permitting the building base to rise and fall whilst retaining the same horizontal position relative to the ground on which it is mounted.

The building may comprise a building superstructure mounted on the building base comprising a plurality of walls and a roof mounted on the walls.

The lifting and lowering arrangement may be positioned directly below the building base and may be received within the perimeter of the building base (so the arrangement does not project out laterally beyond the building base).

The anchoring arrangement may comprise a heavy body, e.g. a concrete slab, that rests upon the ground and/or is secured to the ground, and the lifting and lowering arrangement may be mounted on the heavy body.

Instead of or in addition to this, the anchoring arrangement may comprise a plurality of piles that are received in the ground to fix the anchor to the ground.

Each scissor frame may comprise an upper sliding arrangement, for permitting the operatively upper end thereof to slide over the building base, in one direction when the scissor frame rises, and in an opposite direction when the scissor frame falls.

Each scissor frame may further comprise a lower sliding arrangement for permitting the operatively lower end thereof to slide relative across the building base, in one direction when the scissor frame rises, and in an opposite direction when the scissor frame falls.

Each of the upper and lower sliding arrangements may comprise a guide on the supporting arrangement and a roller formation on the lower end of the scissor frame that rolls along the guide for displacing the associated end of the scissor frame.

The at least one scissor frame may comprise a plurality of scissor frames arranged next to each other underneath the building base.

The two or more scissor frames may be arranged parallel to each other on the base. Instead, the two or more scissor frames may be arranged transverse to each other on the base.

Further, where there are three or more scissor frames two or more of the scissor frames may extend parallel to each other and at least one other scissor frame may extend transverse to these parallel scissor frames. By arranging one or more scissor frames transverse to the others, greater strength and stability may be conferred on the building beneath the building base for absorbing forces and loads against the scissor frames, e.g. in a flooding situation.

While it will be convenient to use a scissor frame or even a slide arrangement, it must be clearly understood that many other forms of lifting and lowering mechanisms could equally be used.

The building base may be engineered to float on water, and the building base may comprise a buoyancy layer providing appropriate buoyancy to enable the support to rise with a rising water level, and a slab layer mounted on top of the buoyancy layer.

Thus, the building base may be engineered to float on water, e.g. like a pontoon, whereby to rise with a rising water level and fall with a falling water level.

The buoyancy layer may comprise at least two buoyancy sections arranged side by side that are operatively attached to each other to form a single entity. Optionally, each buoyancy section may be formed of foam and concrete whereby to provide the

A appropriate strength and buoyancy properties.

The two or more buoyancy sections may be operatively fixed to each other by means of tensioning cables placed under tension to pull the buoyancy sections into tight contact with each other to form a single assembled buoyancy layer.

The buoyancy sections may comprise a plurality of cable openings formed therein which are aligned along the length or width of the buoyancy layer, and each tensioning cable may be passed through a cable opening and tensioned whereby to urge the buoyancy sections together. Further, the tensioning cables and cable openings may extend parallel to each other across the length or width of the buoyancy layer.

Each buoyancy section may have a first stepped surface for engagement with the adjacent buoyancy section and a complementary second stepped surface. This way, the adjacent buoyancy elements fit snugly and neatly into each other across the buoyancylayer.

The slab layer may be made of a cementitious material and may form a support surface on which the building superstructure can be built.

Further, the slab layer may have a reinforcing material received in and embedded within the foundation layer for increasing the tensile strength of the foundation layer.

The building may further include a service conduiting arrangement for conduiting services from the ground up to the building base in a way that permits the services to rise and fall with the building base.

The service conduiting arrangement may comprise at least one spool mounted on the anchoring arrangement or the ground having a service conduit thereon that is operatively connected to the associated service in the building, wherein the conduit can be unwound to lengthen the service lines when the buoyancy layer rises.

Further or instead, the service conduiting arrangement may comprise one or more flexible conduits that are passed through one or more frame members of the scissor frame, and the flexible conduits rise and fall with the scissor frame and remain operational during said rising and falling.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a building that rises with flood waters, the building comprising: a support as defined in any other aspect of the invention; an anchoring arrangement for holding the support in position on the ground so that it does not move laterally or sideways across the ground when the water level rises; and a building superstructure mounted on or built on the support and extending up from the support.

The building superstructure may comprise a plurality of walls and a roof mounted on the walls.

The support for a building may include any one or more of the features, or combination of features, of any other aspect of the invention. Further, the anchoring arrangement and the super structure may include any one or more of the features, or combination of features, of any other aspect of the invention.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of resisting flooding of a building due to rising water levels around the building, including: providing a building having a base that rises when the water level rises and falls when the water level falls; tethering the base to ground near the building; and allowing the building to rise with rising flood waters whereby to resist flooding of the building.

The building may include any one or more of the features, or combination of features, for components of the support described in any other aspect of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A building and a support for a building in accordance with this invention may manifest itself in a variety of forms. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe several embodiments of the invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The purpose of providing this detailed description is to instruct persons having an interest in the subject matter of the invention how to carry the invention into practical effect. However, it is to be clearly understood that the specific nature of this detailed description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a building that rises with flood waters in accordance with one embodiment of the invention and shown in a lowered position;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the building that rises with flood waters in

Figure 1 and shown in a raised position;

Figure 3 is a schematic drawing of part of the mechanism for raising and lowering the building in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a schematic upper perspective view of a base for the building in Figure 1 having a plurality of buoyancy sections that are operatively connected to each other;

Figure 5 is a schematic drawing showing how the buoyancy sections are operatively connected to each other using tensioning cables;

Figure 6 is a schematic drawing showing an exploded view of a building base for the building in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a schematic drawing showing how the service lines are operatively coupled to the house and are able to raise and fall with the level of the water;

Figure 8 is a lower perspective view of another embodiment of a raising and lowering mechanism for raising and lowering the building base having service conduits received within the scissor frame members;

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of a building that is a house in accordance with the invention having an above ground construction;

Figures 10 and 11 are schematic front view of the house in Figure 9 in respectively raised and lowered positions;

Figure 12 is an exploded upper perspective view of a building that is a house in accordance with one embodiment of the invention having an in-ground construction;

Figure 13 is a plan view of the house in Figure 12; and

Figures 14 and 15 are front views of the house of Figure 12 in respectively raised and lowered positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In Figures 1 to 15, reference numeral 10 refers to a building that is a house that has an ability to rise and fall with flood waters by floating on the water whereby to resist flooding damage to the building.

The building 10 comprises a building base 12 that floats in water that will rise when a surrounding water level rises and fall when the water level subsides. The building 10 also includes an anchor arrangement 14 that is mounted in the ground 15. The building 10 further includes a lifting and lowering mechanism 16 extending between the anchor arrangement 14 and the building base 12 for holding and retaining the base 12 in the same X-Y position relative to the surface of the ground 15 while still permitting the building base 12 to rise and fall. It also includes a superstructure 20 of the building 10 (i.e. that part of the building above the base or the slab or the foundation having living amenities) that is mounted on the arrangement base 12.

Each of the main components of the building 10 will now be described in more detail.

The anchor arrangement 14 is received within the ground 15 beneath the building base 12 and securely fastens the building base to the ground 15. In one form, the anchor arrangement 14 may comprise a concrete slab that is laid out on the ground 15. Instead, in another form, the anchor arrangement 14 may comprise an arrangement of screw piles (not shown) that are screwed into the ground 15. The key function is that the anchor arrangement must secure the building 10 to the ground 15 so that it does not float away when the water level rises.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lifting and lowering mechanism 16 is in the form of a scissor frame or scissor mechanism 26 that can expand to allow the base 12 to rise while still holding it in the same position. The operatively upper end of the scissor lift 26 is operatively connected, e.g. rigidly, to the base 12 of the building 10. In turn, the operatively lower end thereof is operatively connected, e.g. rigidly, to the anchor 14 embedded in the ground 15 beneath the base 12 of the building 10.

Some important additional information on the operation of the scissor frame 26 is illustrated in Figure 3.

As will be understood by persons skilled in the art, the length of the scissor frame 26 will shorten when it is raised and to do this a lower end and an upper end of the scissor frame 26 will need to be able to slide or roll inward relative to the structure to which it is mounted, be it the anchoring arrangement or a building base 12.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the anchoring arrangement has an upwardly opening channel 27 within which a roller 28 on the end of the scissor frame 26 is located. The roller 28 is thereby able to roll along the channel 27 when the scissor frame 26 is raised effectively shortening its length during use.

Further, in a variation of this arrangement that has not been illustrated, the lifting and lowering mechanism 16 comprises two or more scissor frames 26 positioned adjacent to each other on the building base 12. In one example of this form, two scissor frames 26 are arranged transverse to each other beneath the building base 12. In yet another form, the various scissor frames 26 on the building base 12 are arranged parallel to each other beneath the building base 12.

As described above, the building base 12 floats on water and, to achieve this, it comprises a buoyancy layer 30 providing appropriate buoyancy to enable the building base 12 to rise with a rising water level. The buoyancy layer 30 is shown, particularly in Figures 4 to 6 of the drawings.

In the illustrated embodiment, the buoyancy layer 30 comprises a plurality of three buoyancy sections 32 arranged side by side that are operatively connected to each other. Conveniently, the buoyancy sections 32 are formed of a foam and concrete material, e.g. of the type that is used to form pontoons. Additionally, the three buoyancy sections 32 have complementary surface formations on opposing sides thereof configured in the form of a step that fits with the complementary surfaces on adjacent sections 32 to form an assembled buoyancy layer 30.

The three buoyancy sections 32 are operatively attached to each other by means of tensioning cables 34 that pull the buoyancy sections 32 in tightly towards each other and form the assembled buoyancy layer 30. To accomplish this, the buoyancy sections 32 have cable passages or openings 38 formed therein which are aligned with each other and extend linearly from one side of the buoyancy layer 30 or base 12 to the other. The tensioning cables 34 are passed through the cable passages 38 and tensioned to pull the buoyancy sections 32 in towards each other to form an assembled buoyancy layer 30.

The building base 12 further includes a building base layer or slab layer 44 on the buoyancy layer 30 that provides a support surface for the superstructure 20 that is basically built thereon or mounted thereon. The slab layer 44 is typically made of a settable cementitious material, and in one particularly convenient form it may be concrete. Further, the concrete will typically have a reinforcing material contained therein to provide the slab layer 44 with a suitable amount of reinforcement. In one form, the slab layer 44 may contain reinforcing fibres (not shown) that suitably reinforce the cementitious material.

Conveniently, the superstructure 20 that is constructed on the slab layer 44 of the

a building base 12 and extends upwardly therefrom comprises a framed construction having framed walls 46 extending up from the slab layer 44. The framed walls 46 on the outside of the structure 20 may include an external cladding mounted on the framed walls 46.

Finally, the superstructure 20 also includes a roof 48 mounted on an upper end of the framed walls 46. In the illustrated embodiment, the roof 48 is a pitched roof resembling the roof of a typical small house. However, it will be appreciated that many other types of roofs could also be used including a flat roof.

The building further includes a service conduiting arrangement 50 for conduiting services from the ground 15 up to the base 12 and the superstructure 20 of the building 10 in a way that permits the services to rise and fall with the base of the building.

Figure 7 illustrates a service conduiting arrangement 50 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

The service conduiting arrangement comprises a flexible water supply pipe or conduit 52, a flexible wastewater pipe 56, and an electrical cable 54. The service conduiting arrangement 50 comprises corresponding winch drums or spools 58 in parallel on the ground 15 that can be unwound to lengthen the service conduits or cables 52, 54, 56 respectively when the buoyancy layer 30 rises.

Figure 8 illustrates a building having an anchoring arrangement and a scissor frame in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

The building in Figure 8 further includes a service conduiting arrangement 50 for conduiting services from the ground up to the building base 12 and the superstructure 20 of the building 10 in a way that permits the services to rise and fall with the building base 12.

In the embodiment in Figure 8, the service conduiting arrangement is passed through one or more members of the lifting and lowering mechanism, i.e. a member of the scissor frame or lift. The service conduiting arrangement may comprise a flexible water supply pipe, a flexible wastewater pipe, and an electrical cable. Optionally, two or more of the two pipes and the electrical cable may be contained in a single sheath as they pass through the lifting and lowering mechanism.

In the Figure 8 embodiment, the service conduiting arrangement 50 is passed through one or more members of the lifting and lowering mechanism16, i.e. a member of the

in scissor frame 26.

Further in Figure 8, an operatively lower end of the scissor frame is connected to an anchor arrangement that is a concrete pier or pile as illustrated in the drawings.

In use, the building 10 which is a house is built on a block of dry land 15 with some flood risk. To do this, the anchoring arrangement 14 is secured in position on the ground 15 and the actual dwelling is mounted on or built on the building base 12, and in particular the concrete or slab layer 44 thereof. The house 10 is then used in the same way as any other dwelling by a group of people such as a family.

However, in a flood event where the water level rises on the ground 15 on which the house 10 is positioned, the house 10 will rise together with the flood waters. This is achieved by the buoyancy of the building base 12 which causes the building base 12 and the dwelling superstructure 20 built thereon to rise. The scissor frame 26 accommodates the rising base 12 due to rising water levels by expanding while at the same time holding the building 10 in the same position relative to the ground 15 and resisting it from being washed away.

This will resist damage to household contents within the house 10 because the superstructure 20 and thereby also the contents will stay above the water level. When eventually the water level subsides, the house 10 will descend back into contact with the ground 15 as the waters recede.

Figures 9 to 11 illustrate a building that is a house 10 in accordance with the invention having an above ground construction.

As shown in these drawings, the house 10 has an anchoring arrangement 14 that basically comprises a large body of concrete lying on the surface of the ground 15. One end of the scissor frame 26 is mounted on the anchor arrangement 14 and the other end is fixed to the building base 12. The superstructure 20 forming a living region of the house 10, in turn, is built on top of the building base 12.

Figure 11 shows the house 10 resting on the ground 15 in a lowered position. The structure is mounted on the surface of the ground 15 and consequently, an upper support surface of the slab layer 44 is positioned at a greater height above the ground 15 than a normal slab on ground construction. When flood waters arrive, the house 10 is raised to a raised position as shown in Figure 10. As the waters rise, the house 10 rises with them and effectively stays above the water surface. This avoids inundation of the house 10

II as shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 to 15 illustrate a building that is a house 10 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention having an in-ground construction.

As shown in Figures 12, 14 and 15, the building 10 is received within a slight excavation in the ground that is surrounded by a retaining wall 70.

The anchoring arrangement 14 comprises an anchoring slab that is received within an enclosed retaining wall 70 and lies on the ground 15 inside the enclosed retaining wall 70. The scissor frames 26 and the rest of the building 10 are then arranged on top of the anchoring slab 14.

As can be seen in Figures 12, 14 and 15, the anchoring slab 14 on which the building 10 is built, and thus the floor of the building 10, is broadly in line with the ground level in this embodiment. This can make it more convenient to enter the house 10 from the adjacent ground and vice versa. It might also be perceived as being more aesthetically attractive.

An advantage of the building described above with reference to the drawings is that it enables a house or dwelling to rise with rising flood waters and thereby resist flood damage both to the house 10 and its household contents. Further, it is not limited to a certain depth or height of flood waters. No matter how much the waters rise, the house 10 will stay above the water.

Another advantage of the building described above is that it provides a practical measure that owners can take to future proof their houses if they reside in flood prone areas. The support structure enables the superstructure of the house containing the living areas to rise with the flood waters.

Another advantage of the building described above is that it is securely held in the same X-Y position on the surface of the land and is not translationally displaced across the land. Put another way, while the house may rise and fall leading to a change in its Z dimension, it remains on the same X-Y coordinate when mapped onto the surface of the land.

Another advantage of the building described above is that it can easily be implemented on single family homes in flood prone areas, e.g. adjacent to major rivers. A yet further advantage is that the invention can be implemented at reasonable cost and the structure is not overly complicated.

It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is herein set forth.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A support for a building that rises with flood waters, the building comprising: a building base for receiving a building thereon, wherein the building base rises when a surrounding water level rises and falls when the surrounding water level subsides; and a lifting and lowering arrangement extending between an anchoring arrangement for holding the building in position on the ground, and the building base for permitting the building base to rise and fall whilst retaining the same horizontal position relative to the ground on which it is mounted.

2. A support for a building according to claim 1, wherein the lifting and lowering arrangement is positioned directly below the building base and is received within the perimeter of the building base and does not project out laterally beyond the building base.

3. A support for a building according to claim 2, wherein the lifting and lowering arrangement comprises at least one scissor frame having an operatively lower end operatively connected to the anchoring arrangement and an operatively upper end operatively connected to the building base.

4. A support for a building according to claim 2, wherein each scissor frame comprises an upper sliding arrangement and a lower sliding arrangement, and wherein each sliding arrangement permits its associated end to slide in one direction when the scissor frame rises, and in an opposite direction when the scissor frame falls.

5. A support for a building according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the building base is engineered to float on water, and comprises a buoyancy layer providing a buoyancy that causes the building base to rise with a rising water level, and a slab layer mounted on top of the buoyancy layer.

6. A support for a building according to claim 5, wherein the buoyancy layer comprises at least two buoyancy sections arranged side by side that are operatively fixed to each other by means of tensioning cables under tension that pull the buoyancy sections tightly into engagement with each other.

7. A support for a building according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the slab layer is made of a cementitious material and forms a support surface on which an above ground structure or a supper structure of a building can be built.

IA

8. A support for a building according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further including a service conduiting arrangement for conduiting service conduits or cables from the ground up to the building base in a way that permits the service conduits or cables to rise and fall with the building base.

9. A building that rises with flood waters, the building comprising: a building base for receiving a building thereon, wherein the building base rises when a surrounding water level rises and falls when the surrounding water level subsides; an anchoring arrangement for holding the building in position on the ground so that it does not move laterally or sideways across the ground when the water level rises; and a lifting and lowering arrangement extending between the anchoring arrangement and the building base for permitting the building base to rise and fall whilst retaining the same horizontal position relative to the ground on which it is mounted.

10. A building according to claim 9, wherein the lifting and lowering arrangement is positioned directly below the building base and is received within the perimeter of the building base and does not project out laterally beyond the building base.

11. A building according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the anchoring arrangement comprises a heavy body that rests upon the ground and/or is secured to the ground, and the lifting and lowering arrangement is mounted on the heavy body.

12. A building according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the lifting and lowering arrangement comprises at least one scissor frame having an operatively lower end operatively connected to the anchoring arrangement and an operatively upper end operatively connected to the building base.

13. A building according to claim 12, wherein each scissor frame comprises an upper sliding arrangement, for permitting the operatively upper end thereof to slide over the building base, in one direction when the scissor frame rises, and in an opposite direction when the scissor frame falls.

14. A building according to claim 13, wherein each scissor frame comprises a lower sliding arrangement for permitting the operatively lower end thereof to slide relative across the anchoring arrangement, in one direction when the scissor frame rises, and in an opposite direction when the scissor frame falls.

IF

15. A building according to claim 14, wherein each of the upper and lower sliding arrangements comprise a guide on the supporting arrangement and a roller formation on the lower end of the scissor frame.

16. A building according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the at least one scissor frame comprises a plurality of scissor frames arranged next to each other underneath the building base.

17. A building according to any one of claims 9 to 16, wherein the building base is engineered to float on water, and comprises a buoyancy layer providing appropriate buoyancy to enable the support to rise with a rising water level and a slab layer mounted on top of the buoyancy layer.

18. A building according to claim 17, wherein the buoyancy layer comprises at least two buoyancy sections arranged side by side that are operatively attached to each other to form a single entity.

19. A building according to claim 18, wherein the at least two buoyancy sections are operatively fixed to each other by means of tensioning cables placed under tension to pull the buoyancy sections tightly into contact with each other to form a single assembled buoyancylayer.

20. A building according to claim 19, wherein the at least two buoyancy sections include a plurality of cable openings formed therein which are aligned along the length or width of the buoyancy layer, and each tensioning cable is passed through a cable opening and tensioned whereby to urge the buoyancy sections together, and the tensioning cables and cable openings extend parallel to each other across the length or width of the buoyancy layer.

21. A building according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein each buoyancy section has a first stepped surface for engagement with the adjacent buoyancy section and a complementary second stepped surface.

22. A building according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the slab layer is made of a cementitious material and forms a support surface on which the building superstructure can be built.

23. A building according to any one of claims 9 to 22, further including a service conduiting arrangement for conduiting services from the ground up to the building base or superstructure of the building in a way that permits the services to rise and fall with the base of the building.

24. A building according to claim 23, wherein the service conduiting arrangement comprises at least one spool mounted on the anchoring arrangement or the ground having a service conduit thereon that is operatively connected to the associated service in the building, wherein the conduit can be unwound to lengthen the service lines when the buoyancy layer rises.

25. A building according to claim 23, wherein the service conduiting arrangement comprises one or more flexible conduits that are passed through one or more frame members of the scissor frame wherein the flexible conduits rise and fall with the scissor frame and remain operational during said rising and falling.

26. A building according to any one of claim 9 to 25, comprising a building superstructure mounted on the building base, comprising a plurality of walls and a roof mounted on the walls.

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