NCKU floating house

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in Taiwan has unveiled a new floating house design as a part of its sustainable energy initiatives.

NCKU’s Research Center for Energy Technology and Strategy (RCETS) has developed the sustainable and rotating amphibious house design, which is expected to be constructed within a year.

NCKU visiting expert Bart van Bueren, the leader for the research project has been working at the university for three years and had experience in water architecture.

Planned to be developed on a fish farm in Taiwan, the building will be the world’s first house to float.

"When you…want to change the view, just simply push one button on your smartphone and the view can follow a pretty bird or sunset."

It has been designed and engineered to rotate around a vertical axis, thus offering the benefit of optimised energy performance.

Rotational movement of the floating building is expected to generate 11% of additional solar energy.

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Bart van Bueren said: "The wind in Tainan varies in direction, so especially at night the two large openings of the building can align with the wind to get optimal wind ventilation; this is also an energy saving measure.

"Even shading of the outdoor space can be optimised by rotating the building. When you live in the house and want to change the view, just simply push one button on your smartphone and the view can follow a pretty bird or sunset."

Planned as a pilot, the house can serve as an innovative and sustainable future housing example.

Once developed, the floating building will offer a positive impact on the environment, in terms of energy production, fish-production, and economic benefits for the community.


Image: NCKU’s floating house in Taiwan. Photo: courtesy of National Cheng Kung University.