Sometimes the right architect can work with the elements characteristic of a property, in spite of certain inherently present environmental risks. Case in point is the redesign of a 600-acre pear farm in the flood-prone Sacramento River Delta. Architects redesigned the farmhouse and its accompanying guest facilities to accommodate the flood zone it rests in, elevating the building to provide a degree of protection from flood, and creating a crawl space beneath concrete floors to facilitate future changes or repairs to plumbing and wiring. At this farmer's dream home, the fields flood twice per year, thoroughly saturating the ground and naturally enhancing growth, while providing the beauty of a year-round lawn and an always-full pond.
Although this is an example of making the best of Mother Nature's moodiness, not all flood zones lend the same opportunity, or are as easily identifiable. A Property I.D. disclosure report uses parcel-specific GIS technology to determine whether or not a property lies inside or outside a flood zone, and provides detailed designations as to which type of flood zone it is, if any.