As part of my Sustainable Design course, I worked with four other students to design a tiny home (<400 square feet) that could float on the Seine River in Paris. By using locally-sourced, sustainable materials, double-paned windows, a well-sealed building envelope, and solar panels, we were able to reduce the house’s carbon footprint by 78.7% compared to an equivalent house. After analyzing the local climate averages, we determined that 100% of the energy required in this house could come from renewable sources from May through September, and 77% from October through April. Additionally, the design was buoyant, stable, waterproof, and freeze-resistant.
