Lilypad

Lilypad, by Vincent Callebaut Architectures, is a floating city prototype. (Copyright: VINCENT CALLEBAUT ARCHITECTURES - WWW.VINCENT.CALLEBAUT.ORG)

Lilypad is an amphibious city prototype by Paris-based Vincent Callebaut Architectures.

The architects were inspired by Victoria amazonia, more commonly known as the "queen" of the water lillies. These giant water lillies are also tough, and can hold the weight of a small child.

The floating city could house more than 50,000 people, as well as offices, shopping malls, and places for people to grow food.

The architects describe their Lilypad as "a prototype of ecologic resilience," and it would make more energy than it needs via the use of renewable energies like wind and solar.The floating city would also be 100 percent recyclable and carbon neutral.

"The goal is to create a harmonious coexistence ... and to explore new modes of living the sea," the architects explain say. See more of Vincent CallebautArchitectures' on their website.

(NEXT>Symbol for the Future)

Rotterdam Pavilion

Parts of Rotterdam are more than 20 feet below sea level, which makes this international port vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels.The Rotterdam Climate Initiative is the city's action plan to reduce CO2 by 50 percent and become "100 percent climate-proof" by 2025.

The Floating Pavilion in Rotterdam is a symbol of this low-lying port city's commitment to sustainability. The Rotterdam Climate Initiative committee says the pavilion is"remarkable not only because of its shape, consisting of three floating half-spheres, but also because of its climate change-resilient, innovative, sustainable and flexible qualities."

The pavilion is just the beginning for the Climate Initiative. There are plans to build more than 13,000 resilient homes in the area. About 1,200 of those homes will be floating houses.

(NEXT>Live On Floating Recycled Trash)

Re:Villa

WHIM's floating recycled island villa concept. (Image: Ramon Knoester/WHIM architecture)

RE:Villa is the concept for a flood-proof, floating island villa made from recycled ocean litter.

This floating recycled house is part ofRamon Knoester's larger plan to build a Recycled Island. Knoester,the founder and principal architect at Netherlands-based WHIM Architecture, says his designs are a solution for living with rising sea level as well as reducing water pollution.

"This project came from my own personal interest in the possibility of habitats that respond to the rising sea level, as well as in the recycled plastics, in particular, sea-waste as a building material," Knoester writes.

The self-sufficient floating villa would have some of the comforts of a traditional land-locked home, including shared rooms, private rooms and even an outdoor garden.

The architect explains the floating recycled island is based on the same building principals as yachts, and WHIM is working with naval architects and building engineers on a prototype. You can see some of the early designs in the slideshow above, and read much more about the project on WHIM's website and recycledisland.com.

(NEXT>It's About Luxury)

MS The World

This isn't about climate change. Living on The World is about luxury.

You could easily mistake the The World for a cruise ship, but this 644-foot yacht is a home on the water. There are 165 private residences on the boat, along with a spa,library, deli and even virtual golf.

All those amenities give residents plenty of ways to stay busy between port stops. Since 2002, The World has visited 900 ports in more than 140 countries— and those destinations change each year.

(NEXT>The Underwater Biodome Concept)

Sub-Biosphere 2

The conceptual design for Sub-Biosphere 2, by Phil Pauley, PAULEY digital consultancy. (Image: Phil Pauley/PAULEY)

Sub-Biosphere 2 is designed as a self-sufficient biodome that can house human and plant life.

The concept comes from futurist and conceptual designer Phil Pauley, the founder of UK-based PAULEY digital consultancy.

According toPauley, "Sub-Biosphere 2 is the original self-sustainable underwater habitat for long-term human, plant and animal habitation."

The 60-story amphibious structure is anchored by the center dome, which contains systems to manage air, water, food and electricity. Eight surrounding domes will house humans, plants and animals.

Pauley brings his design to life in a series of young adult novels called "Moral Order". You can learn more aboutthe biodome, along with Pauley'sother projects, atphilpauley.com and pauley.co.uk.

(NEXT>This Floating Community is Centuries-Old)

NearPuno, Peru: South America

The Uros people have been living on man-made floating islands in Peru's Lake Titicaca for centuries.

Originally pushed out of their native land in Peru by the Incas, the Urosconstructed islands from totora reed, which Atlas Obscuraexplains is "plentiful" around the lake. They built homes on top of the islands, and have made a living through fishing.

According to a 2011 Slate.com article, a storm destroyed many of the islands in 1986, forcing the Uros to rebuild on the water closer to the city of Puno. The move gave tourists better access to the islands, and since then, tourists —often backpackers —go to the islands to stay overnight, bringing more money into the community, which has expanded to about1,200 peopleliving on 60 of these man-made islands.

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