The Floating Seahorses or underwater villas are planned to be built in UAE's "The World islands". These have been certified as safe and comfortable for users and for the environment.

Government and developers will ensure the highest safety standards for these floating homes/villas.

The Floating Seahorses are three-storey holiday homes where the first level is submerged in water giving it an underwater view, docked in the marina of "The Heart of Europe" in "The World islands" project. The first Seahorse, which is being built in Dubai Maritime City, is expected to hit the waters this month.

These are the first of their kind in the world, the villas are actually a cross between a villa and a boat. They float, and will be built according to the codes followed in ship-building.

The villas will have their own sewage tanks so no contaminated water can escape into the sea. It will also have its own water containers and water connection to the marina when docked. Energy source will come from a stand-by generator.

For added protection, the villas are moored in the marina and will not have their own engines to move around. To dock at another location, boats have to tug the villa and the authorities concerned have to clear the way before they are moved.

The villas will only be allowed in calm waters in the islands at a depth of 12m because the maximum wave limit they can take is just half a metre.

To limit motion sickness for those who will stay in the villa, a stabilisation system is placed underneath to accommodate up to 25 people at one time and adjust whenever there is a shift in weight inside. The total weight of the villa — 210 tonnes — also gives it stability.

The 25 square metre underwater glazing for the base level is made from acrylic to give a full view of the villa's own coral garden spanning 46 square metres. The bottom level that is submerged in water is just like any ordinary basement so air pressure does not need to be regulated.

This seems like a truly viable solution to the world's ever-increasing environmental ills. The inspiration for floating homes stems from the major problems facing the 21st century, such as land shortages, rising sea levels and growing C02 emissions, all of which could lead to the demise of our land-dependent population sooner rather than later.

Source : Gulf News