Floating Lakeside Pod Lets Visitors Meditate to the Sound of Water and Nature

You don’t need ASMR audio of waterfalls and babbling brooks when your yoga center is literally floating on a lake!

Say hello to the Lakeside Meditation Pod, an outdoor space designed by Sri-Lankan architect Thilina Liyanage, to allow yoga practitioners to meditate amidst nature. The pod showcases an almost egg-like shape, putting you in the womb of mother nature, with enough ornate decorations to really give the space a distinct aesthetic. Some would even compare it to a conch shell, which is known to have a high significance in Hindu tradition for its ability to generate the frequencies of the “Om” chant often associated with yoga and meditation.

Designer: Thilina Liyanage

The meditation pod sits on the edge of a lake, hovering above the water’s surface with enough open area to let people view their surroundings. To enter the pod, one needs to climb up a short flight of stairs that leads to the pod’s small floor, which can easily accommodate up to 5 people and one instructor.

The upper view of the pod shows its construction, using two halves that join together to form a vertical seam. Liyanage is known for his biophilic approach to design, with liberal use of natural materials, and the meditation pod falls well within the architect’s style guide. The meditation pod uses a combination of wood and composite paneling, with detailing on the roof to give the pod an almost Faberge egg-like appeal. There’s even an exit facing the lake, for people looking to take a dip after a refreshing yoga session!

The post Floating Lakeside Pod Lets Visitors Meditate to the Sound of Water and Nature first appeared on Yanko Design.

These luxurious floating pods are an eco-friendly + smart residence on the ocean

I think you can now officially say goodbye to yachts, and sea-facing homes as Ocean Builders is brewing up something better than both of them combined! The Panama-based company designed “the world’s first eco-restorative floating homes”. Created by Dutch architect Koen Olthuis, these luxurious homes will come in three stunning models – SeaPod, GreenPod, and EcoPod.

Designer: Ocean Builders

These aquatic abodes are the perfect culmination of quality craftsmanship and green tech, providing you with a comfortable and sustainable experience on the seas. The SeaPod is quite aptly created for aquatic living, whereas the GreenPod is engineered for land, and EcoPod is the environment-friendly option.

The SeaPod was designed to tackle the issue of lack of space in popular seaside destinations. Ocean Builders CEO Grant Romundt said, “Every day thousands of people all over the world move closer to the top 15 major metropolitan cities which are within 50 miles of a coastline—a trend that will continue to grow…We’ve been motivated by the opportunity to change and challenge the traditional real estate and tourism models and create first-in-class living experiences that can give back to our ocean environment”.

These futuristic offshore structures are almost eight feet above the water and provide 83 square feet of living space. The interiors feature a bedroom, a living room, a bathroom, a kitchen, and an impressive storage space. Occupying three levels, the pods also feature 575 square feet of panoramic windows and a patio that provides unparalleled and unobstructed views of the ocean.

The cherry on the icing would be the fact that these pods are smart! The residents can control the lighting, temperature, and even the water pressure of showers! Each pod is accompanied by a wearable smart ring for the owner – which allows them to lock and unlock doors, turn on music, and much more. In fact, a fleet of drones will drop food, medicines, and other miscellaneous items to the pods, whereas larger autonomous vehicles will be used to deliver bigger items.  While you enjoy your luxurious stay in the floating pods, Ocean Builders has ensured that a natural habitat for ocean life will be created below each structure.

Luxurious, sustainable, and smart, these floating pods are completely redefining life on the ocean!

The post These luxurious floating pods are an eco-friendly + smart residence on the ocean first appeared on Yanko Design.