Spiky Sea Urchin-Inspired Hydroelectric House Converts Wave Energy into Electricity

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/margot-krasojevic" target="_blank">Margot Krasojević</a> just unveiled designs for a futuristic hydroelectric house that looks like a piece of Atlantis surfacing from the waves. Inspired by the shape of a sea urchin, the Hydroelectric Tidal House harnesses tidal and solar energy to generate electricity. Conceptualized for Llandudno, Cape Town, the sculptural building comprises two shells: a fixed, outer shell that anchors the home to the beach and a free-moving interior unit buoyed by the waves.

Cast in concrete, the outer semi-circular shell attaches the house to the shoreline with sand foundations.

Solar cells line the outer shell to take advantage of Cape Town's abundant sunshine however; the structure will be primarily powered by the more reliable renewable energy source of tidal waves.

To maximize the amount of tidal energy captured, the shell is designed with a porous structure that allows multiple channels of water to flood the space between the outer and inner shells.

The Hydroelectric Tidal House features an electromagnetic turbine system that uses neodymium magnets and copper wire coils to induce an electric current when the waves push and pull against the extruded chambers.

Thus, the inner floating shell is made from a lightweight non-ferrous aluminum structure; electrical energy is captured in a capacitor.

The living area is composed of three modules that can be easily altered depending on the client's functional requirements.