After a decade of relatively tranquil seas, the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season was literally one for the books. Long after Hurricane Irma ravaged Puerto Rico, more than half of the country was still without electricity — a true testament to the power of this storm system. Unfortunately, as surface ocean temperatures continue to rise, we can only expect more powerful storms in the future. With this in mind, perhaps this ingenious floating “hurricane-proof” home will allow humanity to better weather the challenges of a more tempestuous planet.
Architect Koen Olthuis and housing startup Arkup unveiled plans for a series of “livable yachts” at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show shortly after the storm. Olthuis’ architectural firm, Waterstudio, has produced floating structures for the past decade. We’ve covered flood-proof homes in the past, but these floating structures have been designed to handle not only rising waters but also the powerful winds (up to 156 mph) associated with Category 4 hurricanes. In February 2019, the storm-proof homes became a reality.
A hydraulic system allows the unit to rise more than 20 feet during a surge, and a series of rooftop solar panels will enable each of these floating homes to operate completely off the power grid. These glorified houseboats will also incorporate a rainwater collection and filtration system, allowing them to fulfill basic plumbing needs in situ. Arkup debuted its first floating residences at a yacht show in Miami in 2019. It’s a fitting location to showcase the structures; Miami is projected to be hit hard by a changing climate, with scientists projecting the city could be at least partially underwater by the year 2100.
Arkup’s first homes likely won’t be an option for most, especially with a price tag of up to $6 million. But they are quite impressive structures. Listed at 4,350 square feet, the homes can be customized to however the owner prefers, with up to four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms. It can be set up on land, anchored by hydraulic studs, or take to the water. With the first model under its belt, Arkup plans to create smaller structures that will be about 1,600 square feet and come with a smaller price tag.
Updated on February 27, 2019: Arkup’s first yacht is now available.
Few things ruin a quiet evening faster than a robot vacuum roaring through the living room. Most of us end up pausing the cleaning run, which defeats the whole purpose of owning one. Matic thinks it has the answer with its new Serene robot vacuum, and the big selling point is how little noise it makes.
The Matic Serene runs at 52 decibels even when cleaning at full power. To put that in perspective, Matic compares it to the hum of your refrigerator. It is available now for $1,695, which is $200 more than the original Matic’s current price.
Outdoor security cameras are not always practical if you live in an apartment or rental. Drilling into an exterior wall may be off-limits, while pointing a regular indoor camera through a window can create another problem once reflections start showing up after dark.
Baseus is trying to solve both issues with the new PrimeSentinel W1, a $69.99 security camera designed specifically to monitor the outdoors through glass. It mounts directly to a window without drilling and uses a 4K Starlight sensor with an F1.0 aperture for full-color monitoring during the day and at night.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
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