If climate change has you nervous about the future, you’re not alone. A recent report from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts cities such as Tokyo, London, Jakarta, Sydney and Shanghai are expected to be totally or partially underwater as sea levels rise over the next century.

 

Now more than ever, it’s clear that we must adapt to our changing planet – and find new ways of living with nature, rather than fighting against it. That’s why Cornerstone Floating Islands and Villas are designed to bring people closer to water.

 

We all know the beauty and serenity of a lakeside getaway. Unfortunately, while the water may hold an innate ecological and natural value, until recently, developers have struggled to make the best use of these assets.

 

Prime Locations

 

Now, new technology makes it possible to harness the water that surrounds us – like air, lakes and oceans are abundant and essentially free. With our floating foundations, these bodies of water are now just as valuable as the most prime waterfront locations.

 

This breakthrough couldn’t come at a more important time. As the global population continues to expand, prime locations are becoming ever more difficult to source, leaving developers desperate for alternative options. At Cornerstone, we believe we’ve finally found the answer to this problem.

 

Best of all, floating developments limit harm to the local landscape and environment, allowing visitors to truly appreciate the beauty of the natural world. Our buildings are environmentally friendly and easy to build on a realistic budget.

 

New Opportunities

 

Throughout Asia, new opportunities are opening up for land and lake owners, as well as regional and national governments, to take advantage of this precious and abundant resource. For example: in Malaysia, man-made lakes left over from mining and mineral exploration could be repurposed to develop floating resorts – without the steep cost of land reclamation or the limitations of the surrounding landscape.

 

No Limits

 

With the Cornerstone floating islands, there are no limits to size, shape, or layout, giving you maximum flexibility when it comes to construction. The modular nature of our designs allows construction in phased process, making construction more cost-effective.

 

In some ways, a floating building has unique advantages over traditional construction. Designers can position each floating module to provide optimum light for work and life, perfectly placing windows and seating areas. Or, if you prefer, modules can be placed to embrace the natural landscape – giving employees and guests the perfect view of the lake or local landmarks.

 

A Smoother, More Comfortable Ride

 

Unlike the chain and anchor system used in today’s marinas, Cornerstone has developed an innovative flexible anchoring and mooring system that offers a smoother, more comfortable ride. As the water level or tide increases the mooring system simply expands, and as the water level or tide decreases the system slowly contracts, similar to a car shock absorber.

 

Not only is our system more stable, but the installation time is far quicker than chain and substantially faster than piling alone. The system is engineered to the exact specification of the local environment and the bathymetric survey.

 

In traditional land reclamation, property developers must wait at least two years for land to settle before construction can begin. Not so with the Cornerstone modular islands. Once the platforms have been secured together with our ultra strong couplings and anchored to the sea or lakebed, construction can begin on the platform immediately.

 

The platform itself is extremely durable due to the design and the materials used. Steel is fully galvanized and the EPS is completely protected by a watertight fibreglass covering. An optional concrete covering can be installed along the sides to protect against damage from boats and ships. The floor elements are fully tested for fire safety by TNO/Efectis.

 

Our patented design also leaves space for rainwater storage tanks inside our floating foundations. This water may be used for a so-called grey water system, reducing the impact and the Carbon Footprint of the new development.

 

Both manual and fully automatic stability systems have been developed to keep the floating foundations level. This may be achieved by using either water or air. In the automated version, the system is fully regulated by a computer. The ballast tanks may be placed in the floating bodies or in the spacing of the system.

 

The complete floating structure is securely moored with rubber hawsers attached to large concrete sinkers on either the lakebed or the ocean floor. This allows the building to adjust to any changes in the water level.

 

Our uniquely designed pontoons and anchoring systems make the Cornerstone floating islands very stable and safe. The floating structures do not interfere with the water currents and have minimal effect on the lake bed/ocean floor.