Rising water levels in oceans and rivers, streams with high flood waves, and torrential rains that turn puddles into lakes: houses that are currently exposed to such increasingly regular water events are becoming a problematic, if not catastrophic, environment. The protective function that the house is supposed to have according to its original idea and design is being compromised. While roofs and walls are supposed to keep out wind and water—and the traditional European gabled roof is primarily designed to divert water from above—in these extreme weather scenarios, basements are flooded, roofs are torn off, entire houses stand like islands in the water or are even swept away.

This means that the boundary between water and land needs to be redefined. Where houses are located near surface waters such as rivers or the sea, the aquatic boundary areas of riverbanks or coastlines have always overlapped with the human need for safe living spaces. While some non-European living cultures have a more open and flexible approach to living with water, most European dwellings must always be dry, so that the fluid boundary between water and land becomes strict. These cultural norms become particularly critical in the event of flooding: houses flood (or are washed away), basements are filled with water, and dry becomes wet.

The boundary between inside and outside, which the house was originally intended to represent, and which was once unquestioned, is now up for debate. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the concept of the 'whole house' has come into question in European literature, philosophy and architectural theory. The distinction between the supposedly protected interior and the supposedly excluded exterior has become increasingly problematic. Therefore, even though the boundary has been questionable for about a hundred years, it has become downright precarious in light of the rise in global temperatures in recent decades.

The aim of this conference is to discuss the issue of houses near water, focusing on their presence in European literature and culture, from antiquity to the present day. We will also examine the architectural history of such dwellings. We want to examine houses by the water in both functioning and disrupted aquatic relationships. What textual frameworks and media techniques are used to represent houses by the water in both scenarios? For example, what can the literary theme of the watermill tell us about the relationship between humans and water, and how does it address disruptions to this relationship? Are there periods in European literary and cultural history when flooded or submerged houses receive special attention and significance? In what ways do cultural representations of houses near water explore the relationship between humans and their aquatic environment? What architectural approaches to building near water exist, and how have these been discussed?

Possible topics could include (but are not limited to)

- Houses by the water, such as watermills and lighthouses, boathouses, bathhouses and fishermen's houses in literature and culture;

- Flood narratives and other stories and narrative genres about houses by the water.

- Floating houses and other living strategies in the context of climate change in literature and culture.

- European vs. non-European living near water.

- Gender-specific aspects of living by the water.

- Catastrophism and the normality of flooding in literature and culture.

- Houses near water in painting, film and other visual media

- Houses near water in music, dance and the performing arts

- Theorising houses near water in aquapoetics and the blue humanities

etc.

We invite 30-minute presentations from researchers in the following disciplines:

- Literary studies (European philology, comparative literature, postcolonial studies, etc.)

- Art history

- Cultural studies

- Gender studies

- Media studies (visual studies, film, music, etc.)

Our call for contributions is addressed to researchers in the fields of ecocriticism, environmental humanities, blue humanities and river and coastal studies. Contributions from architectural history and theory are particularly welcome. 

The conference will take place on March 3-5, 2027, at the Center for Climate Resilience at the University of Augsburg. In order to loosen up the structure during the conference and establish cross-references, there will be time for thematic interim discussions instead of a final discussion. Please send your proposals with titles and abstracts (max. 300 words) for previously unpublished contributions, as well as a short bio-bibliographical sketch (max. 150 words), to Annina Klappert (annina.klappert@uni-a.de) and Kai Merten (kai.merten@uni-erfurt.de) by May 17, 2026. The conference languages are German and English. A publication is planned.