Here is a brilliant alternative to hotel rooms and temporary residences: the Living Roof, a self-sustaining capsule that generates more energy than it uses and which is meant to be set on city rooftops. It is a brilliant invention of NAU Design, intended to answer the specific needs of multi-city travelers. The capsule is designed to offer an easy check in: guests only need to insert their personal ID on an exterior terminal and then a hatch opens and a and a stairway extends. Upon entry, visitors are welcomed by a pleasant voice.
An interactive guide with video preview and menu listing will help guests plan their activities in the city and they can even transfer all necessary information (like museum schedules, dining venues or corporation addresses for business meeting) into a PDA or other similar gadgets. To keep things exciting for travelers, the location of these capsules will change every two years. And what happens during the time that they are not in use? They continue to generate energy and feed it into the grid, until new guests come to spend a few days in them.
So how do the Living Roofs generate energy? They have two very efficient systems integrated in their structure: photovoltaic cells for solar energy and two wind turbines for eolian energy. They also boast very advanced rainwater collection and gray water filtration systems. Another remarkable feature of these units is the convertible interior. The lounge are, sleeping area and work space are all in one, due to a sophisticated system that rotates vertically and changes its function as needed. For instance, when visitors feel like resting, they will simply set the capsule on sleep mode and have the possibility to lay down while watching TV or admiring the view. When they need some space to work, they will just have to change the module’s position in the work mode. This unique system reduces the need for extra space, heating and cooling.
The very futuristic urban retreats feature a highly comfortable upholstery to make them as welcoming as possible. There is also plenty of storage space inside, so guests won’t need to stumble across their belongings during their stay in the Living Roofs. And to top it all off, the views that they offer are always stunning. We would definitely love to see them on rooftops in the future!
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