Architecture

Inachus floating mansion launches in London

Inachus floating mansion launches in London
Inachus” is a two story house boat that more appropriately resembles a hi-tech floating mansion
Inachus” is a two story house boat that more appropriately resembles a hi-tech floating mansion
View 19 Images
London based Sanitov Studio launched its stylish and sustainable floating home during the London Design Festival
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London based Sanitov Studio launched its stylish and sustainable floating home during the London Design Festival
Spread across two levels of luxurious living, the home comes complete a rooftop deck and BBQ area
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Spread across two levels of luxurious living, the home comes complete a rooftop deck and BBQ area
Spread across two levels of luxurious living, the home comes complete with designer furnishings, botanical garden wall, wooden floorboards and floor to ceiling windows
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Spread across two levels of luxurious living, the home comes complete with designer furnishings, botanical garden wall, wooden floorboards and floor to ceiling windows
The multifunctional entrance area and staircase features an impressive green wall, a large skylight and an electric hatch that brings you up to the rooftop
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The multifunctional entrance area and staircase features an impressive green wall, a large skylight and an electric hatch that brings you up to the rooftop
The Inachus prototype took 9 months to complete as it was Sanitov’s first floating build
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The Inachus prototype took 9 months to complete as it was Sanitov’s first floating build
The home incorporates the use of sustainable and recyclable materials such as fast-growing bamboo, reused industrial wood and recyclable concrete
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The home incorporates the use of sustainable and recyclable materials such as fast-growing bamboo, reused industrial wood and recyclable concrete
According to Sanitov it is one of only 40 homes in the U.K. to boast an Energy Level 5 status
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According to Sanitov it is one of only 40 homes in the U.K. to boast an Energy Level 5 status
At the heart of the home’s hi-tech features is a Lutron light control system which allows the home’s habitants to control all lighting aspects remotely by simply using a smart phone or tablet
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At the heart of the home’s hi-tech features is a Lutron light control system which allows the home’s habitants to control all lighting aspects remotely by simply using a smart phone or tablet
To maintain a low carbon footprint the Inachus home comes highly insulated and features an airtight envelope structure, triple glazed windows and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
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To maintain a low carbon footprint the Inachus home comes highly insulated and features an airtight envelope structure, triple glazed windows and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
Sanitov Studio has a range of floating home builds in the pipeline and it is currently working on getting permission for a floating community in London
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Sanitov Studio has a range of floating home builds in the pipeline and it is currently working on getting permission for a floating community in London
Inachus comes complete with photovoltaic panels for off-the-grid energy supply.
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Inachus comes complete with photovoltaic panels for off-the-grid energy supply.
Rooftop deck comes complete with BBQ area and hot tub
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Rooftop deck comes complete with BBQ area and hot tub
Luxurious living on board Inachus
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Luxurious living on board Inachus
Luxurious living on board Inachus
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Luxurious living on board Inachus
The Inachus home comes highly insulated and features an airtight envelope structure, triple glazed windows and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
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The Inachus home comes highly insulated and features an airtight envelope structure, triple glazed windows and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
Luxurious living on board Inachus
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Luxurious living on board Inachus
Luxurious living on board Inachus
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Luxurious living on board Inachus
Inachus” is a two story house boat that more appropriately resembles a hi-tech floating mansion
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Inachus” is a two story house boat that more appropriately resembles a hi-tech floating mansion
The multifunctional entrance area and staircase features an impressive green wall
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The multifunctional entrance area and staircase features an impressive green wall
View gallery - 19 images

London based Sanitov Studio launched its stylish and sustainable floating home during the London Design Festival, which opened earlier this month. Named after the Greek mythical river god, “Inachus” is a two story house boat that more appropriately resembles a hi-tech floating mansion. Spread over two levels, the home comes complete with designer furnishings, botanical garden wall, wooden floorboards, floor to ceiling windows, a rooftop deck, intelligent lighting system and photovoltaic panels for off-the-grid energy supply.

“The whole house has been made from a dedicated relationship with, and inherited sense of, the Scandinavian design approach,” Sanitov Studio’s lead designer, Alexander Hamilton Hose, told Gizmag. “The home is inspired by what the possibilities of the mobility of a boat and the solidity of a house can bring in one vision, including playing on the natural surroundings of the river.”

The Inachus prototype took nine months to complete as it was Sanitov’s first floating build and by its nature a few design features had to be adjusted. The home incorporates the use of sustainable and recyclable materials, such as fast-growing bamboo, reused industrial wood and recyclable concrete. The multifunctional entrance area and staircase features an impressive green wall, a large skylight and an electric hatch that brings you up to the rooftop BBQ area and hot tub.

The multifunctional entrance area and staircase features an impressive green wall
The multifunctional entrance area and staircase features an impressive green wall

At the heart of the home’s hi-tech features is a Lutron light control system, which allows the home’s inhabitants to control all lighting aspects remotely using a smart phone or tablet. By using an internet connection, this function can be accessed from anywhere in the world, giving users the option to check if all the lights have been turned off or if on vacation, to remotely turn on the lights in the bedroom or living room to give the impression that someone is home.

The system has also been programmed to turn on the lights at an 80 percent capacity to save energy. Furthermore, the lights can be synced with the alarm system, causing them to flash on and off when triggered. This feature would obviously attract more attention to the home, while also making it more difficult for the intruder to see.

To further maintain a low carbon footprint, the Inachus home comes highly insulated and features an airtight envelope structure, triple glazed windows and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. According to Sanitov, it is one of only 40 homes in the U.K. to boast an Energy Level 5 status, which equates to 100 percent energy efficiency. In addition, the home catches and utilizes grey water for the cleaning of the boat and for watering the internal botanical wall.

Sanitov Studio has a range of floating home builds in the pipeline and it is currently working on getting permission for a floating community in London. “It's lately gotten very popular and trendy to live in the water areas – and that's just the start,” said Hose. “Floating homes in floating communities have so many things to offer our urbanized cities and it’s only a matter of time before we will see them scaling up from niche to a phenomenon [and] help solve sustainable and socioeconomic problems to our growing cities all over the world.”

Prices for a Sanitov floating home like Inachus start from £750,000 (US$1.2 million) to build without a mooring. However, the Inachus prototype launched in London is currently for sale with its 60 year residential mooring license for £2.3 million (US$3.65 million).

Source: Sanitov Studio via Designboom

View gallery - 19 images
10 comments
10 comments
Rt1583
In the end, it's still just a houseboat. Expensive as hell but still just a houseboat.
mogden
Good luck trying to find a mooring for it. Moorings on the River Thames are rarer than hens teeth and if you do find one there tends to be a rule that they have to look like boats (or at least a barge) and be self powered and able to motor against the current.
Panayis Zambellis
cost a fortune in energy to keep the cold and damp away as anybody who has lived on water can confirm
yinfu99
Strange, that it should be roomy, but you dont get to see much of it. Also the furnishings were sparse, spartan, and...common. Perhaps the boat cost so much that was the furniture they could afford. The concept is interesting, but the results are less so.
Jay Finke
I like the multiple Gull perches on the side of it, perfect for nesting an raising there young. WOW
Max Kennedy
Just what the world needs another example of excess. Bah!
Ormond Otvos
The houseboats in Sausalito are far, far more interesting and artistic. As a houseboat resident for more than thirty years, I'd walk right past this one, not to mention the silly price.
Gadgeteer
Looks like a miniaturized version of the Freedom Ship.
http://www.gizmag.com/go/2089/
Mark McGraw
awesome for Zombie infestation. Just cast off and you are safe!
The Boat Builder
Hi, I built this boat and just finishing the sister ship. I agree with some of the comments, but I'm not responsible for the design : ) I would certainly be interested in building more houseboats of this size in the future, but maybe with a revised cost ; )