Looking to elevate its portfolio of floating luxury home concepts, design firm BMT Asia Pacific has developed an aquatic accommodation with an especially striking feature: a see-through, cylindrical sleeping chamber that sinks three meters into the deep, providing 360-degree views under the sea.
Known as “SeaScape,” the project—currently in its detailed-design phase—centers on a triangular villa comprised of a marine-grade aluminum pontoon and curved fiberglass roof. While the basic model comfortably fits two (with a double bed in its submarine room), its interior can be reconfigured to quarter another pair. The frame’s three-sided shape lends to the design’s modularity, allowing multiple structures to be strung together in order to create larger spreads spanning up to 3,000 square feet. It's an ideal plan meant to pique the interest of local resort developers hoping to tap into the trend of taking high-end lodging to the water.
Reminiscent of Salt & Water’s waterborne luxury lodges and Kleindienst Group's underwater villas in Dubai, the homes—which will be “classed” (i.e. made to follow standards set by organizations created to ensure the safety of marine structures)—are designed to be impervious to stormy weather, though not intended to be anchored in exposed ocean areas. “A current site we are looking at is a Pacific island with fringing coral reef, generally sheltered from everything but local waves,” reveals managing director of BMT Richard Colwill.
SeaScape features a triangular villa with an aluminum pontoon and a fiberglass roof. Photo Credit:... [+]
The dwelling reflects a total revamp of BMT’s past nautically-minded havens. Collectively known as “Sea-Suite,” the previous models (”Floating Lodge,” inspired by the yachting lifestyle; “Houseboat,” a multi-level, loft-style home; and “Beach Cabin,” a landborne, self-sufficient version)—were far more difficult to ship due to their cumbersome egg-shaped form (which called for special lifting and transportation).
“Key drives for the SeaScape model included reducing transport and construction costs and introducing a unique selling point,” Colwill says, noting that due to their modular nature the units—unlike their predecessors— will be shippable in standard 40-foot containers.
Slated to be priced between $650,000 to $850,000 (depending on specification), the homes will offer customizable pontoon tops and interiors. “It goes without saying that we will be seeking to adopt ‘yacht-quality’ materials and finishes,” Colwill says. But the resemblance to schooners stops there, given that the villa—which will be safely anchorable in coral areas—won't be mobile.
Not to say its immovability makes it any less intriguing.
“The real luxury is in the experience it facilitates,” Colwill says. “SeaScape enables developers to [offer] their clients the [rare opportunity to experience] the undersea realm—from the comfort of 400-thread count sheets.”
