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(CNN) — Floating homes, luxury living and smart home technology don’t necessarily go hand in hand.
But Panama-based Ocean Builders, a company that specializes in innovative marine technology, recently unveiled a “revolutionary living pod” that brings all three together.
Costing between $295,000 and $1.5 million, the pods, described as the “world’s first eco-renovation homes,” are currently under construction at Linton Bay Marina on Panama’s northern coast.
Designed by Dutch architect Koen Olthuis and his Waterstudio team, the three models include the SeaPod flagship model built for living in water, the GreenPod, for land use and the EcoPod, an ecologically and economically friendly alternative.
High structure
A rendering of the Seapod, one of three pod models from Panama-based Ocean Builders.
Ocean builders
Seapod was conceptualized by Ocean Builders’ head of engineering, Rudiger Koch, along with CEO Grant Romndt, to address the lack of space at popular beaches.
The towering structure has 833 square feet (73 square meters) of living space, including a master bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom, spread over three and a half levels.
The two-person suite uses more than 1,688 cubic feet of air-filled steel tubes to float 7.5 feet (2.2 meters) on waves and has 575 square feet of panoramic windows and 360-degree ocean views.
Rommandt said the design challenges the concepts of housing and travel, and allows residents to live on the water without sacrificing the “luxuries of modern living.”
“Typically when you live on the water it’s on a boat, which is an unacceptable living situation for a lot of people,” Romndt told CNN Travel.
“So we designed a floating house that gives you the experience of living on land, but more.”
The pods should be equipped with the latest technology, with apps that customize the design and functionality for the people inside.
Future homes
The towering structure was designed by Dutch architect Koen Olthuis and the Waterstudio team.
Ocean builders
Meanwhile, special “smart rings” worn by residents allow them to open their doors and change their music with a hand wave.
” if so [technology company] Apple had built a house, I think you’d end up with a SeaPod, or a GreenPod, or an EcoPod.
“Instead of making the phone a digital assistant, I like to think that your home will be your assistant and you can use it to make your life easier.”
The pods will initially be located in an area near Linton Bay Marina. However, the Ocean Builders team hopes to distribute them globally once they are confident the technology can be supported elsewhere.
A longtime advocate for oceanfront living, Romndt previously lived on a houseboat in Toronto, and says it’s a hard lifestyle to relate to.
“There’s something magical about being able to get up in the morning, walk down, jump on a paddleboard and paddle,” he explains.
Delivery drones
The units are currently under construction in Panama, with sales set to begin online later this year.
Ocean builders
“It’s so peaceful and beautiful. Most people spend the whole year going on a two-week vacation to a tropical island to relax, unwind, rejuvenate and restore themselves.”
“So why not live like that all year round? It’s so easy to be able to work remotely now.”
While people who choose to live in one of these unique units may have a sense of adventure and a love of the water, Romndt says the team doesn’t have a specific type of customer in mind.
In fact, Seapod is sure to jump at the chance of owning most people who experience it for just a few minutes.
“When I lived in my houseboat in Toronto, everyone who came to visit fell in love with the place,” he says.
“So all I have to do is get people on a seppod for five minutes. The experience just blows your mind. It’s really amazing.”
But what about things like merchandise?
According to Romndt, customized air transport aircraft are used to deliver food and medicine as well as “everyday small items”.
For larger shipments, there is a separate autonomous vessel, which is used as an ocean recycling vessel, to collect trash and debris to keep the environment clean.
‘Eco-Renovated Homes’
The capsules must be “built and managed in harmony with the environment”.
Ocean builders
Residents and visitors can be transported to and from Sea Pod by dinghy boats, jet skis, local water taxis and/or their own boats or ships.
And although they certainly look like they’re designed for a minimalist approach, there’s 1,250 square feet of storage space inside.
With a focus on sustainability, it is designed to “benefit the surrounding environment” and provide “a natural habitat for ocean life to thrive and thrive.”
“We’re trying to build and design a house that’s good for the environment and doesn’t harm the environment,” Romant explains.
“And we’re always trying to innovate and find ways to do that better. Now we’re not perfect, but we’re always trying to be better and better.”
The first completed pods will be revealed online at the end of September, and potential buyers will soon be able to go and see for themselves.
“People have been trying to buy them for years,” says Romndt, who explains that the Ocean Builders Group decided not to accept deposits until buyers could see the pods in real life.
‘Big job’
The SeaPod offers 833 square feet (73 square meters) spread over three and a half levels.
Ocean builders
“It’s a very new thing. And there’s a lot of real estate stuff that people are putting money into that will never happen.
“We didn’t want to take deposits until people came down and parked the pod. So I’m really glad we finally got to that point.”
“This is a huge undertaking. I wanted it done two years ago. But it’s been done in just three and a half years, which is amazing.”
It is slated to begin production on an additional 1,000 pods in 2024.
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