Floating a Future for Homes in Harmony
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015
LONDON—Here’s a fluid design for those looking for a home by the water…err, we mean, on the water.
WaterNest 100, designed by Rome-based architect Giancarlo Zema, is “an eco-friendly floating habitat” made of up to 98 percent recycled materials, including glued laminated timber and an aluminum hull.
A rooftop amorphous photovoltaic array generates the power for the dwelling.
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| Photos: © Giancarlo Zema Design Group for EcoFloLife |
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The WaterNest 100 uses 98 percent recycled building materials and is powered by a solar array. |
The circular home was inspired by the aquatic nests of water birds, says Zema, who bills his own firm as an "innovative semi-submerged architecture studio."
The birds' nests enable the fowl to live and raise their babies in harmony with nature, Zema told Gizmag.
"So I thought of designing something similar that can help us to embrace life and allow us to live a floating experience in a natural and energy-saving habitat."
WaterNest 100 can be positioned along rivers, lakes, bays, atolls and calm seas, the firm says.
Nesting
The design takes up only 100 square meters (about 1,076 square feet) but boasts panoramic water views thanks to large windows and balconies, the project details say.
The interior layout can be configured to the owner’s needs, including playing the role of floating bar, restaurant, shop or exhibition space, the architect says.
The architect recommends the nest for those seeking to live “independently, exclusively and in complete harmony with nature."
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The home can be positioned on rivers, lakes and calm seas. The interior configuration is flexible. |
The home was designed for EcoFloLife, a London-based developer that specializes in floating habitats.
According to EcoFloLife, homes of the future will increasingly be located on water, due to climate changes that are raising the levels of seas and rivers.
The WaterNest could also find a home in the floating cities of the future forecast by The Seasteading Institute.
The pricetag on the dwelling starts at €500,000 (about $558,275 USD), reports say.
No stranger to floating architecture, Zema has also designed a semi-submerged cliff-side dwelling and a five-story floating apartment block.
Tagged categories: Architects; Architecture; Color + Design; Design; Energy efficiency; Green building; Solar energy; Sustainability
