Category Archives: Living

Future Of Ocean Living: ‘Lillyana’ – A Hydrophytic Model For Urban Design

LILLYANA : Architecture & Innovation for the Sea

Author : Arthur Seibert and Clemens Lindner
Nationality : German
Year : 2019
Location : Shanghaï, China

In the context of a rapidly increasing global population growth and the associated shortage of living space, alternative urban concepts in a marine environment are gaining importance under ecological and sustainable aspects. The concept- guideline “renaturation instead of soil sealing” is an effort to react on the challenges of current megatrends in the context of the sea. The underwater city structure is designed for up to 15,000 inhabitants in the vicinity of a large coastal city. “Lillyana” represents an ideal system that can be applied to various geographical and climatic conditions and their specific demands. The form is inspired by hydrophytes – plants that grow above and below the water and benefit from their environment. Through their biometric and biological mechanisms, the shape has been improved for energy efficiency, buoyancy and stability. Thus, the wind-, water- and solar energy production is directly embedded in the design language. The main challenge of this project was to develop a self-sufficient system that could also allow different forms of social life at the same time. To achieve this, we have tried to understand the factors that make an attractive city: “Living”, “working”, “mobility”, “supply” and “recreation” These fields of action provide the framework for our design: Therefore, a superior supply organ will be placed in the centre, from which radially arranged bridge systems will form connections to floating platforms. These are anchored beneath the seabed and represent the quarter centres. From the platforms, supply pipelines, on which various spheres are suspended, lead into the depths. They shift private, professional and social life below the water surface. High attractiveness, beneath as well as above the sea level, is achieved by providing well-located and spatially qualitative living and working areas with a recreation and leisure area, as well as an intelligent infrastructure via a pipeline network.

Descriptive of Author : Splendour of life beneath the surface: “Lillyana” – A hydrophytic model for urban design

Innovative Boat Tours: ’28-Ft Tiny Houseboat’ (Video)

This is a handcrafted cedar tiny houseboat that measures 28’x8′ and weighs 6,000 lbs. The Koroc V model has a massive deck with sofas, a dinette, and a hammock that hangs over the water, plus a bimini for shade. Indoors there’s a kitchen, bathroom, dining table, and a dinette with sofas that converts into a queen-size bed. It was handcrafted by Richard from Daigno in Quebec, Canada.

This float home is completely off-grid with a solar panel and batteries for electricity, a water pump to pull water from the lake or river for showering, a freshwater tank for drinking water, a composting toilet, a carbon filter for greywater, and a propane heater. There are also two roof fans and plenty of windows and doors that can help keep air circulating.

This is a beautiful build and it was fun to spend the day on the water with Richard and his business partner Özgen, touring and spending time on the pontoon boat, and even cooler to go back to his workshop at the end of the day to see where all the magic happens. Richard really does create every part of this boat by hand and we hope you enjoyed taking a peek at another of his masterpieces!

Find out more about Daigno houseboats here: https://daigno.ca/en/home.html & https://www.facebook.com/daigno.ca

Mobile Lifestyle Video: The Rise Of Retirement-Age RV Nomad “Workcampers”

The pandemic has spurred surges in camping and RV travel due to the need for social distancing and outdoor activity. But it’s not all fun and vacations: one group of Americans adopted a self-sufficient and nomadic lifestyle long ago, living full-time in motor homes and working seasonal jobs to support themselves as they travel the United States. Paul Solman reports on retirement-age “workampers.”

Future Of Mobile Living: “2021 Living Vehicle” – “Top Off-Grid Power & Luxury”

Enjoy a luxurious mobile living experience with all the comforts of home. The 2021 Living Vehicle combines beautiful aesthetics with the functionality of a modern home.

Excellence in design is achieved when there is nothing left to take away. Clean lines, European fixtures and marine grade influences elevate Living Vehicle to a stunning yet functional work of art.

Go where you want and do what you want. Living Vehicle is engineered to withstand the demands of even the most extreme outdoor adventures. Four-season capabilities, off-road running gear, and storage for all your toys make sure fun has no limits.

Website

Travel & Adventure Video: “Living And Running A Business On A Sailboat”

Alejo and Andrea started exploring alternative lifestyles when they quit their jobs in Miami and started travelling in a travel trailer, but after falling in love with kite boarding, they realized that life on the water would be a better fit, and they moved onto a catamaran sailboat so they could chase the wind every day!

For work, they own a pet supply company called Mokai, which they are able to operate remotely, and they also have a YouTube channel where they share videos about their daily lives.

You can follow Living Hakuna’s sailing adventures here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrlb…

Cities & Nature Video: The “Alotment Gardens” Of Copenhagen, Denmark

The concept of kolonihave, a blissful combination of an allotment and a summer house, has shaped Danish cities since the late 17th century. Today, avid growers convene in these colonies to find a peaceful place to commune with nature as well as a community of diverse characters.

Future Of Homebuilding: “Mighty Buildings” 3D-Printed Prefab ADU’s (2020)

From an Oakland warehouse, startup company Mighty Buildings constructs prefab homes with their Big-G Printer, a 20-foot-tall 3D printer that, at speeds of 120 millimeters per second, can print a 350-square-foot studio in less than 24 hours. The homes are made of Light Stone, a thermoset composite material that hardens when exposed to UV light.

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Instead of 3D printing sections of each home for on-site assembly, the machine maximizes cost savings by printing the home’s entire structural shell—thus automating the building process by up to 80% with cost savings of 20% to 30% compared to traditional prefab methods.

Exterior Details:

  • Long lasting PVC roofing
  • Andersen windows & doors
  • Classic fiber cement siding enhancements

Bathroom and Kitchen Details:

  • Designer selected plumbing fixtures
  • Designer selected ceramic tile in shower
  • Elegant mirrored medicine cabinet
  • Cooktop, oven, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, washer & dryer
  • Custom cabinetry
  • Quartz countertops
  • Vanity in bathroom

Energy Efficiency Features:

  • Water efficient plumbing fixtures
  • Smoke and carbon monoxide detector
  • Programmable thermostat
  • Mini split HVAC system
  • Tankless water heater
  • LED lighting

Website

Future Housing & Living: Off-Grid “Ecocapsule” – “Spectacular Innovation”

The Ecocapsule is an egg-shaped, mobile dwelling that utilises solar and wind energy. Sona Pohlova and Tomáš Žáček created the original design in 2014 for an American client “who had a big ranch where he didn’t have any infrastructure and he needed some living units for visitors”.

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They didn’t win the project, but were published worldwide and received requests from people to buy it. They weren’t prepared for the reaction, but they spent 5 years turning their plans into a prototype.

Today they are selling their EcoCapsule – complete with shower and toilet, sleeping area for two, and kitchenette – to anyone looking to “stay in the nature for long time, for example scientists, photographers, rangers or extreme tourists” or someone interested in installing one on a city rooftop.

The pods are highly mobile: they can easily be pulled by a pickup truck or even airlifted by helicopter (for those rooftop needs). The units capture sun energy (PV) as well as their own rainwater (and grey and blackwater). There’s even an app-controlled smart-home system and sensors that help you monitor your energy and water use.

New Travel Video : “Life Afloat” – Houseboat Life On Thames River, England

Filmed and Directed by: Sav Kyriacou and Matthew Rosenberg

It is estimated that over a thousand people live afloat on the Thames between Teddington Lock and the Thames Barrier. These floating villages have a rich and, until now, untold history. Based on photography, archive research and oral history interviews, this exhibition draws together the past and the present, tracking the evolution of houseboat life on one of the world’s most vibrant rivers.

Music by Bloch Eyot from the Magic Folkgrass album featuring Above the Storms, Thames Upstream and Long Highway.

Commissioned by Thames Festival Trust
Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund

Future Of Living Spaces: “Studypod” And “Birdbox” By Livit Design Studio

Studypod by LivitScience shows that being surrounded by plants, trees and nature improves mental health, productivity and learning abilities. This is why Studypod is designed to be placed in your garden, in the forest or any inspiring environment. With one large window in the front, its like working outside while being sheltered.

Birdbox is a prefabricated room designed to bring you close to nature. It should give you comfort and shelter, at the same time be small and light enough to be placed in unique places with minimal footprint.

Birdbox by Livit Interior

Birdbox comes in two versions, Birdbox Mini and Birdbox Medi. Delivered key ready with interior.

A room for imagination

Home office, Yoga studio, hobby room, extra bedroom. With the detachable desk comes new opportunities. Studypod can be used as a affordable on site office solution.
Add extra mobility with heavy duty lockable wheels.

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