Whatever floats your pod

It has been a long road for the fully autonomous pod Anthénea. Penned by French naval architect Jean-Michel Duacancelle, the original design was inspired by the villain’s lair from the 1977 James Bond flick The Spy Who Loved Me, and has taken five prototypes and more than 15 years to complete. Now, it is finally ready to hit the seas, with the French-based outfit announcing it will roll out its first dome-shaped apartments in early 2022. While boasting a lounge, bar, kitchenette and rooftop solarium, its best feature is its ability to fuse seamlessly with the marine world. The company describes it as a ‘lotus flower’, as it sits atop the seas and “has no impact on the underwater ecosystem”. Moreover, the UFO-like structure is fitted out with solar panels, a saltwater filtration system and a US Coast Guardapproved waste treatment system; is powered by 100 per cent clean energy; and is equipped with an innovative anchoring system that has a minimal impact on the ocean floor.