Sustainable Floating Home

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The so-called WaterNest 100 was designed by architect Giancarlo Zema and is one of the most sustainable and green floating homes around. It is made primarily from recycled materials and is powered by a roof-top solar array.

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The WaterNest 100 is a round, pod-type building, which has an impressive 1,076 sq ft (100 sq m) of interior space. The house is intended to be floated on rivers, lakes, bays, atolls and calm seas, has a diameter of 39 ft (12 m) and is 13 ft (4 m) high. The domed building is made from a recycled aluminum hull, and features a laminated wooden supporting frame, as well as curved wooden cladding and partition walls which have all be made water-resistant.

All the needed electrical power is generated by a roof-top solar array, which is mounted on the roof and spans 646 sq ft (60 sq m). The builders used amorphous solar panels, which were curved to match the curvature of the home. According to the company EcoFloLife, which developed the WaterNest 100 following Zema’s design, claims that the peak output of the panels is 4 kWp, while the home can operate on about 1 kWp.

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The home is also equipped with a micro-ventilation system that included ceiling and floor air grilles, which let in fresh air. It also has an automated temperature control system to further reduce energy waste. This automation system enables occupants to control lighting, and draw curtains and blinds. They also have the ability to preset air conditioning, lighting, and sound profiles, as well as monitor energy consumption and temperature.

The interior of the home is highly customizable, and can feature a large, open living space, as well as several bedrooms. As such, it can easily be used as a family home, but works great as a vacation home, guest house, office or even a floating bar or restaurant.

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