Living with flood risk - renovation of buildings in the old town of Passau

On a neck of land at the confluence of three rivers (Danube, Inn and Ilz), the old town of Passau has lived with floods for centuries. In August this year the waters reached over 6metres above normal. Living with this risk means adapting - changing the function of rooms on the ground floor, using furniture that can be moved quickly and locating building systems above the highwater mark. And, most importantly, choosing only those building materials and components that withstand moisture, suffer little damage and are easy to clean. These principles have been enshrined in local building regulations since the 1970s.