Colin Winslow Ashby is now a semi-retired New Zealand Chartered Professional Engineer, born and educated in New Zealand he gained a Bachelor of Civil Engineering at Auckland University. He has broad experience across a number of fields including roading and waters, having worked for Government, Local Government, and Engineering Consulting firms in the North Island, before setting up his own general practice consulting firm but tending to specialise in geotechnical and structural residential work. When the Canterbury Earthquakes occurred, Colin volunteered to go to the South Island and assist Civil Defence. However, after the immediate crisis was delt with, there was a need for engineers to assist with the rebuild so Colin moved down permanently and opened up a branch of his consultancy in Christchurch.
Through his Geotechnical and Structural experience, he was asked to assist with redeveloping a residential site. However from his broader experience he recognised the risk of flooding, and offered to design an amphibious house if the client were prepared to build it.