Houses of the future

Who knows what the future holds? One thing is certain: if things get bad, you'll need a home that ensures your survival.

Overpopulation is already wrecking the planet. Ekinoid homes are the solution! Sort of. These proposed spherical buildings on stilts leave the land underneath usable for other purposes. They are suitable for any environment and can be constructed by unskilled people. Light and strong, they can be built "off the grid" because they have their own water, sewerage and power systems. They last 100 years and are then recyclable. Inside are three floor levels and space enough for a family of four.

Cutaway of the copper-tiled model

In the case of a tidal wave or global flood or other watery disaster, Airdrop houses can be dropped into flooded areas, where they soak up water and expand. They harden into usable habitats and you can grow plants over the outside for food and shade. Pretty neat!

Or abandon terrestrial living altogether. No, not quite time to leave the planet, but you can live on the ocean in this futuristic floating house - the Trilobis 65 is designed like a luxury eco-yacht although it's not intended to travel. It's 20 meters long and houses six people on four levels with the lower deck hanging 3 meters below the surface for awesome views.

And what about that inevitable zombie apocalypse? This house from Polish designers KWK Promes looks pretty normal at first but becomes a concrete-enclosed fortress at the press of a few buttons.

For an all-round (literally) eco-friendly alternative in a resource-poor futuristic world, head for your hobbit home. The Eco-Hab provides a zero-carbon lifestyle with its eco-friendly technology such as wind turbines and rainwater harvesting, along with two living levels to house up to 6 people.