Three Futuristic Homes That We Might One Day Be Living In
What makes a “futuristic home”? Is it the level of technology involved, its energy efficiency, or environmental friendliness, or perhaps just the way it looks? For some, it could be one or any of these things, but surprisingly, not all examples of modern homes rely on cutting-edge technology, but rather better use of rationality and common sense.
- The Lost House
“Living space” has long been a concern in those areas of the world with a high population density, and not much spare room to build. A possible solution to this issue, as proposed by renowned British architecture David Adjaye, is, rather than building on empty land, or demolishing and making space, why not simply “repurpose” what already exists?
To demonstrate, Adjaye created “the Lost House”, a home that he built on an old loading bay of a former warehouse in a back street of London. From the outside, the house doesn’t look like much and is barely discernible from the surrounding warehouses. But on the inside, lies a strikingly beautiful home, designed in an attractive modernist style, boasting skylights over each living area, and with space enough for outer courtyards, and even a pond.
Though it’s not likely that people will rush to live in an area filled with warehouses, Adjaye’sLost House aptly demonstrates that the living space we need is, perhaps, all around us, if only could use it more wisely, just like when we signup now.
- Monolithic Dome Homes
Dome homes, such as the famous Monolithic Dome Homes in Pensacola, Florida, and dotted around the US, on the other hand, generally look like they come straight out of a science fiction movie.
With the first Monolithic Dome home being built in 1977-1978 by David, Barry, and Randy South,inMenan, Idaho, the idea has clearly been around, in the US and elsewhere, for quite some time. It is based on the simple and well-observed fact that domes happen to one of the most robust and stable shapes in all of nature, something that was aptly proven when the dome homes of Florida survived the devastating force of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 far better than the other surrounding homes.
Not only are dome homes hurricane proof though, and earth-quake resistant, but they are also well insulated, making them very energy efficient.
It may simply be the odd look of these buildings that have caused them to be so slow to catch on, but with the evident impact of changing climate on the world’s weather and environments, this may inevitably become a logical choice for future home design.
- The Green Building Initiative
Another highly practical and innovative idea for sustainable living environments has been proposed by GBI, the Green Building Initiative, a non-profit organization based in Canada. This idea centers not just on single homes, but whole apartment blocks made to be sustainable and energy-efficient in every conceivable way.
This drastically reduces the building’s carbon footprint within dense population areas, and it features solar panels, roof gardens for growing food, an improved plumbing system for filtering and sorting waste, and much more.