WaterNest 100 solar powered floating home concept

Giancarlo Zema, an Italian architect, has come up with a floating eco-friendly solar powered home by the name of the WaterNest 100. The floating home offers 100 square meters of space in a circular structure resembling a pod. 98% of the home is designed in recycled materials and the roof of the home is a solar panel array.

[Image Source: Giancarlo Zema]

This isn't the first time that the architect has looked into designing a residence on water. He has also been involved in the design of a partially submerged dwelling on the side of a cliff, a floating apartment block and a yacht style home. The WaterNest 100 does feel more realistic though and the concept could become a reality.

[Image Source: Giancarlo Zema]

Zema said he took inspiration for the home from studying nests of water birds. The architect said that water birds live and have babies in harmony with nature on the water so he wanted to design a floating home experience for people.

[Image Source: Giancarlo Zema]

The floating home is designed to have moorings on bays, calm seas and lakes and features a 12 meter curved structure, 4 meters high. The hull of the home is made from recycled aluminium with a supporting frame of laminated wood. The cladding is also in wood and the partition wall specially treated so as to resist the weather.

[Image Source: Giancarlo Zema]

The electricity for the home comes from the 60 square meter solar panel array on the roof of the home. The Amorphous solar panels have been shaped to match the curve of the building and offer peak output of 4 kWp, but it can operate at around 1kWp.

[Image Source: Giancarlo Zema]

A micro-ventilation system is also used in the house and floor to ceiling air grilles bring fresh air into the home's interior. It is designed to be minimal maintenance and has low energy consumption thanks to an automated temperature control system.

[Image Source: Giancarlo Zema]

Owners of the home can have the WaterNest 100 configured in different ways with each home having a central square space and being able to accommodate a family of up to four in two bedrooms. It could alternatively be used as an office, restaurant, shop, exhibition center or as a lounge bar.

[Image Source: Giancarlo Zema]

The home would be automated and the system would control the lights, the sound system and the curtains and blinds. There would be pre-set air conditioning settings, lighting settings and sound profiles. The owner would also be able to monitor the temperature along with the amount of energy consumed.

[Image Source: Giancarlo Zema]

Zema said that the WaterNest 100 will be produced soon and we cannot wait to see a prototype. Wonder how much one will cost though. Any guesses?