10 Floating Homes of the Future

Forbes: 10 Floating Homes of the Future

By Bethany Lyttle

Life at sea—it sounds far away, like a distant lifestyle reserved for Navy seamen, ocean trawlers and submarine captains. But as shorelines recede, populations grow and property-ownership ideas evolve, designers and architects are prompted to re-think how—and where—we live. Many look to the water.

Shaped like domes, jellyfish, spaceships and icebergs, few of these notions of futuristic dwellings will ever go beyond the design stage. However, this doesn’t mean homes that float, submerge or drift on rivers are the stuff of sci-fi. “Just because a design vision is not built yet, does not limit its potential impact,” says Maria Lorena Lehman, founder of Sensing Architecture, an online forum for architectural design, science and new technologies. “In fact, by proposing new ways of living, including on the water, architectural design is advanced, and in turn, human life is improved.”

(Photo by Orhan Cileli)

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10 Floating Home... By Bethany Lyttle

Life at sea—it sounds far away, like a distant lifestyle reserved for Navy seamen, ocean trawlers and submarine captains. But as shorelines recede, populations grow and property-ownership ideas evolve, designers and architects are prompted to re-think how—and where—we live. Many look to the water.

Shaped like domes, jellyfish, spaceships and icebergs, few of these notions of futuristic dwellings will ever go beyond the design stage. However, this doesn’t mean homes that float, submerge or drift on rivers are the stuff of sci-fi. “Just because a design vision is not built yet, does not limit its potential impact,” says Maria Lorena Lehman, founder of Sensing Architecture, an online forum for architectural design, science and new technologies. “In fact, by proposing new ways of living, including on the water, architectural design is advanced, and in turn, human life is improved.”

(Photo by Orhan Cileli)

More from Forbes:
8 Highly-Elevated Homes
Incredible Open-Air Homes
10 Stunning Homes Of The Future

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
WHY Floating Hom... With more than 3,000 square feet of living surface and three levels of decking, the WHY concept yacht is designed for living—and entertaining. In part, what distinguishes the design is its emphasis on sustainability (relative to other yachts). The vessel relies on thermal energy and recycled organic and inorganic waste, ideally resulting in a low impact on the sea. Luxurious and easy on the eye, the minimalist interior features walls of glass, modern furnishings, an elaborate curved staircase and a tree growing in the center of the living space.

(Photo by WHY)

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8 Highly-Elevated Homes
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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
The Citadel This floating apartment complex was designed by Koen Olthuis of the Netherlands. Thanks to the use of water-cooling techniques, the multi-family residence will reduce energy consumption by about 25%. The design is a response to the the ever-encroaching waters in the Netherlands. Rather than fight this in traditional ways, such as with dykes, Olthuis is embracing the environmental changes and designing to adapt, instead. The apartment building will be built on top of a floating concrete caisson foundation and will include 60 luxury apartments, a parkade and a floating road to get there. Each unit will have its own garden terrace and of course, water view.

(Photo by Koen Olthuis)

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House On Water Designed by Polish firm Formodesign, this floating house features a lower deck and elevated main house. And while it may look completely futuristic, the floating home actually exists. The vessel was conceived as a vacation rental. The idea was to allow folks on holiday to have the experience of a yacht without navigation or a bumpy ride. Solar panels on the top of the house are among its eco features. It also includes systems to remove salt from the water and has SMART controls allowing for adjustments via a computer.

(Photo by Formodesign)

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Ome The product of a joint venture between Palmerstone and Donald Starkey Designs, this residence would be 104 feet in diameter and feature both upper and lower decks. In addition, it would have its own sea-water pool. The interior would include five bedrooms and a large open living area. The island would be self-sustainable with power, water and waste management integrated into the design. Photovoltaic cells on the roof would be used for power.

(Photo by Palmerstone and Donald Starkey Designs)

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Pearl This open-sea eco houseboat is the brainchild of industrial designer Orhan Cileli. Most houseboats have flat bottoms so they rock heavily if they hit big waves. Pearl's design would be stable and efficient out at sea. In fact, the houseboat was actually inspired by a fishing bobber. There's more to the Pearl than cool-looking design, though. The four-story house, which has a deck and greenhouse, would make use of alternative energy technologies, including wave and solar energy, to move it around and provide electricity.

(Photo by Orhan Cileli)

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Tafoni Floating ... Designed by Joanna Borek Clement, this cylindrical floating home of the future was designed as a way to protect the natural environment. The home has an appealing cylindrical shape and it is divided into three main living zones and features a glazed sun-room at its center. Measuring in at less than 300 square feet, the house isn't large. However, high ceilings and a lack of formal walls keep it bright and open. The house frame and parts are intended to be prefabricated off site and lowered onto pontoons.

(Photo by Joanna Borek Clement)

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Fioriella Hyun Seok-Kim designed this quaint floating retreat. Closed, it looks like an egg. Open, its petal-like panels resemble a lotus flower. The interior of Fioriella includes a convertible sofa-bed for day/night relaxing. There's a deck at water level so residents can lounge and view passing scenery. Best of all, the cabin is designed to provide underwater panoramic views. A jet engine and eight nozzles keep the pretty vessel afloat.

(Photo by Hyun-Seok Kim)

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Jellyfish 45 Created by Giancarlo Zema Design, this floating dwelling of the future houses up to six people. The five-level residence features a spiral staircase and a teak deck. Most levels of the home would bob above the surface but an acrylic viewport at the very base would allow occupants to watch sea life, submarine-style. Designed to mimic a jellyfish, the plastic home, which is approximately 50 feet at its widest, would be reinforced by fiberglass. Residents would anchor the residence in bays, sea parks and seas rich in flora and fauna.

(Photo by Giancarlo Zema Design)

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Floating House This pre-fab house, created by Gabriel Wartofsky Design in California, can be assembled in a shipyard and then constructed on site. It sits on a reclaimed Styrofoam base. The house features multiple trellises so owners can grow flowers, herbs and food on board. These green walls also provide privacy, help filter air and gray water, modify temperature and reduce the amount of energy needed to keep the home cool. A tugboat can be attached to tow the home to any location, allowing for owners to access new scenery or better weather conditions on a whim.

(Photo by Gabriel Wartofksy Design)

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Iceberg Designed by Daniel Andersson of Finland, this floating concept houseboat was inspired by icebergs as the name suggests. Only the tips of the home show above water and most of life happens below. The cottage-sized home, which is less than 700 square feet, features a central atrium and staircase surrounded by rooms and living quarters. Aquarium-like windows allow for both light and views of marine life. The roof of the Iceberg is designed to double as a sundeck.

(Photo by Daniel Andersson)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
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