Living Down by the River

Living 13 feet off the ground forced these homeowners to put in an interior elevator.

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Filed under: Home Types

John Dyer wanted to build a house on the banks of the Ohio River, a short distance from Evansville, Ind. But to build his dream house next to the water, Dyer had to comply with some requirements mandated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. To satisfy the requirements, Dyer had to sink a lot of money into the home's foundation.

The home is built 13 feet off the ground, on 18-inch diameter columns sunk 8 feet into the ground. The columns are tide together with steel reinforced beams, and now the house is so far off the ground the Dyers have an interior elevator.

The top floor features huge windows facing the river, and a large deck is perfect of outdoor living. The first floor contains a guest bedroom and bathroom, as well as a home office that also serves as a den.