Kebony contributes to marine revolution

Pioneering developer delivers flagship floating home

Located in Marinstaden, Sweden, AquaVilla has unveiled the completion of its largest floating home. The unique and remarkable property named ‘Sjövilla 210’ perfectly embodies Scandinavia’s ambitious design culture, constructed with materials chosen to function to the highest standard in marine conditions. Complementing AquaVilla’s dynamic design ethos, Kebony, a beautiful wood recommended by leading architects, was selected for every piece of timber used throughout the build including the exterior walls, pontoon deck and roof terrace.

The brainchild of Richard Bergstrom, AquaVilla is now Sweden’s leading developer of buildings on water following twenty five years of research and development. This exciting concept encompasses an innovative infrastructure solution in which Aqua Pier and Aqua Docking Buffer guarantee that all villas remain permanently anchored and completely unaffected by the movement of the sea.

AquaVilla’s largest home is an inspiring feat of architecture and design, which is synonymous with the growth of the company to date. Constructed on a 12 x 18 metre concrete support on the seabed, the beautiful home is as much a product of the innovative materials used, as the creative idea that inspired it. Kebony proved to be the perfect material for this project; its resistance to wear and weathering was a key consideration when choosing the material given the waterfront location of Sjövilla 210.

Developed in Norway, Kebony’s revolutionary technology is an environmentally friendly process which modifies sustainably sourced softwoods by heating the wood with furfuryl alcohol – an agricultural by-product. By polymerising the wood’s cell wall, the softwoods permanently take on the attributes of tropical hardwood including high durability, hardness and dimensional stability. In addition, the smooth nature of the Kebony wood is suitable for those walking on the decking with bare feet; the wood does not get too hot making it pleasing for visitors to stand on during the height of the summer.

At the heart of AquaVilla is a core connection to the surrounding environment. Through the installation of an Aqua Energy System, which utilises energy from nearby water to heat properties, and the company’s assurance to using space effectively, AquaVilla has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the environment. The use of Kebony for the external walls, decking and roof terrace in their largest villa to date, further reiterates this strong commitment to revolutionary environmental technology.

Jonas Wikström at AquaVilla commented: “The construction of our largest villa is a true achievement for all involved. Building a home that floats on water was never going to be easy; however the selection of high quality materials such as Kebony ensured its smooth and timely completion. We are delighted with the final outcome and are very much looking forward to working with Kebony again in the future.”

Per Thyberg, Country Manager at Kebony Sweden said: “The completion of Sjövilla 210 is a momentous occasion for AquaVilla who should be incredibly proud of the ingenuity and innovative design that was incorporated throughout this project. Kebony is delighted to have contributed to their largest floating home and we can’t wait to see how the wood develops over time.”