Ian Simpson Architects is planning to upcycle two old water tanks in the English countryside by turning them into houses. The Barnacre Equilibrium Tank Houses will be created inside the old water tanks, which are made of concrete and were designed to hold 1 million gallons of water.
The houses will have gradually receded into the Earth, although they will have a level front porch. The roofs will be covered in grass so as to mesh with the surrounding landscape and the power systems of the house will be low-energy with heat pumped from the ground and photovoltaic panels providing energy. You can see conceptual images of the project here, and if you play your cards right, you can actually stay in one of the homes as the designers are planning on turning one of the tanks into a holiday cottage.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Upcycling Water Tanks
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Companies can explore repurposing old water tanks into sustainable housing solutions.
- Green Architecture
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Sustainable building practices can be incorporated into architecture, such as utilizing low-energy power systems and green roofs.
- Sustainable Tourism
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Transforming unused structures into unique holiday accommodations, like converting old water tanks into vacation rentals.
Where This Applies
- Construction
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Construction companies can specialize in repurposing structures and implementing sustainable building practices.
- Renewable Energy
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Renewable energy companies can develop innovative solutions for powering sustainable buildings, such as ground heat pumps and photovoltaic panels.
- Hospitality & Tourism
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Hotels and vacation rental companies can explore unique accommodations like converted water tanks to attract eco-conscious travelers.
