AN architect has designed a robotic greenhouse with legs that can raise itself up to stay dry during a flood.

Jonty Craig's hydraulic building will be revealed to the world tonight when it features on Channel 4's Shed Of The Year.

Wallingford-born Mr Craig and his London firm BAT Studio built the £45,000 super shed for a frequently flooded Berkshire homeowner.

But he said the same design could be used to build entire houses, in floodplains such as Oxford, that can lift themselves up at the push of a button to stay dry.

The city recently saw major flooding in 2014, 2012 and 2007 with hundreds of homes affected.

The 32-year-old said: "I think this could be a way to make new homes very affordably – this method gives the opportunity to build in places you couldn't otherwise build on.

"One of the reasons it allows you to build there is because you don't have to fill the land with concrete foundations, you would just use concrete piles."

Born in Wallingford hospital, Mr Craig grew up in Benson, where his parents Ann and George still live, then went to Magdalen College School in Oxford.

In a previous job with Camden architects Rick Mather, he helped massively redesign Oxford's Ashmolean Museum, where his mother Ann now gives guided tours.

In 2012, with fellow architect David Di Duca, he founded Between Art and Technology (BAT) Studio, with the dream of "combining architecture and interaction design".

The firm was contracted last year by Wraysbury couple Erica Matlow and Peter Kavanagh to build a greenhouse that could stay dry during repeated floods.

Mr Craig said: "The house flooded five times in 15 years, and that caused a lot of trauma.

"They asked us if we could build them a floating shed, and then through research we designed a project that grows legs instead.

"That offered a lot more opportunities and met their needs."

Constructed on a steel frame, the building incorporates four hydraulic legs enabling it to rise to nearly one metre above the ground.

When a flood warning is issued, the owners can pack the building with furniture and possessions at risk of damage and safely raise the greenhouse using a remote control.

Once the floodwaters have subsided, the building can stay in that position until all water and debris beneath have been cleared.

BAT Studio believes the greenhouse is the first ever building to have been completed using the concept, and will be highlighted on tonight's show.

Mr Craig said: "We are definitely hoping to get more interest from the programme – it would be nice if we could take it to the next scale.

"We would love to build a house using the same method."