Lightning Safehouse

Since early childhood, Buck Middeldorp has been fascinated by the brute force and beauty of lightning storms. But while he would love to travel to Uganda’s lightning capital Kampala to witness the spectacular outbursts, local fisherman risk their lives every day on Lake Victoria to earn a living. Each afternoon, lightning is likely to strike, causing many deaths. Supported by rigorous tests at the TU/e’s Lightning Lab, Buck designed a floating safehouse, as a nearby refuge for when the weather changes. The tall aluminium structure will attract lightning bolts, and conduct the electricity to the bottom of the lake. As the design also forms a Faraday cage, the fisherman can safely wait out the storm here and enjoy the show – along with the storm chasers.